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Plant Propagation

Want to start Sweet Gum Tree.

18 years ago

Anyone have good tips on starting Sweet gum tree? All the nurseries around here carry only the seedless variety. I love the 5 lobed leaves and fall color of the seeded variety. I have friends in other states that have these in their yards and I love them. How does one go about starting these? Anybody have any suggestions? seeds, small sweet gums? HELP!

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Comments (7)

georgez5il
18 years ago
Propagation from seed or cuttings. Cuttings use firm new growth. apply 0.8% IBA (rooting hormone) stick in well drained soil & mist Takes 60-100 days to root.
Seed store at 40F for `12 weeks then sow.....
kcassidy
18 years ago
We carry them in our nursery, and they look like they have been grafted. Probably on a 'seeding' rootstock.
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Hi seedartist, Welcome to Garden Web! Have you checked local places like parks. If I remember correctly, from a friend having a tree, they are falling and pretty much of a nuisance all year. You might also check with your local Freecycle groups. There is likely someone who would have some and welcome someone picking them up. Sue...chemocurl Here is a link that might be useful: find a Freecycle group in your area.
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I like sweet gum Kat. I assume we are talking about Liquidambar styraciflua? The one with more or less maple type leaves, the great fall color and of course the spiny balls. If they grow well elsewhere around you I would assume it is something to do with your trees. Describe how you planted them, how large? B&B? Any chance you can post a picture or two through Photobucket or another site? One of the leaves another the trunk where it enters the ground.
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looking for sweet gum tree seeds or better yet young seedlings , the ones with the spikey burr type balls that grow on the trees , I can trade catalpa seeds , rose of sharon ( bush) euonoymous,lilac ( several varieties) . Ideally I would love either rooted cuttings or very small seedlings already sprouted * say 4 to 5 inches tall . I would pay for shipping for sure ! Please contact me if you have some to trade . I may have other tree seeds of interest Signet
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Thanks for the input. I didn't realize they liked acidic soil and lots of water, as I've see a few out here in Weatherford that are just spectacular in the fall...and they are in places that don't really get a lot of extra attention. But, good to know that I may need to pay a little closer attention to it than I thought I would. We have the perfect place for a tree like this, even with its messy habits of the spikey balls. We'll be able to see it just off our deck that's set back from the house, but it will be at the edge of some woods and a ravine with a creek bed, so we'll get to enjoy its beauty year round (especially fall!), but not have to deal with its mess because of its location. And it's an area that gets the water run off from our property, so hopefully I won't have to supplement with too much water....unless we have another year like this past one! I'd love to plant a whole row of them there, but I think I'll start with just one to see how it does here first. Thanks again for the input!
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tsmith2579
18 years ago
You want the seedless variety. You gotta have the seedless variety. Otherwise your yard wil be littered with thousands of sweetgum balls. The lawnmower will pick them up and sling them 1/2 block. They hurt when they hit you. They rattle around in the lawnmower housing. You will turn your ankle when you walk on them in the yard. They are a mess and seeds will sprout all over the yard. BUY one of the seedless varieties in the fall. Go to the nursery when the leaves have turned and pick the prettiest one you can find. I remember one in Uncle Emmett's yard that was turned bright orange every autumn. They are stunning if you pick the right one. But be sure to pick a seedless one. Oops, I forgot to say they spread by running roots.
john_ny
18 years ago
Second that! You do not want the seeded variety. We have them here, and every year, I have to pick thousands of seedlings out of my garden beds, my lawn, and the plants in pots that I'm trying to sell.
brenda_near_eno
18 years ago
Liquidambar styraciflua is native here, and my yard has at least 2 dozen very large trees. I love the seeds - so geometric - but I have only a quarter acre in grass, so I don't worry about mowing and slinging them. I do get a lot of seedlings, easily eliminated with a snip of pruning shears, so email me if you want to send me a priority mail stamp, and I'll send you some babies.
lucky_p
18 years ago
Triple that! Gumball-less only. In addition to the hazards already outlined, there's nothing like steppin on one of those spiky seed capsules in your bare feet to spoil a day. Only thing worse as a yard tree would be a chestnut tree, with it's really spiny burs.
roseyp8255
18 years ago
AMEN! I have TONS of them - and too much acreage and trees to dig them out every year. They come up so thick that they BLOCK my view of some of my azaleas out front, etc. I am CONSTANTLY cutting them back.

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