Wood: This is one of the most important US broadleaf timber trees. The wood is moderately hard and heavy, close-grained and straight. It is used for furniture, veneer, cabinets, interior trim and for many other purposes. The thick sapwood (called Sap Gum) is white and the heartwood (called Red Gum) is pink or reddish, and they are sold as two distinct woods. The name "sweetgum" originates from the sweet, gummy sap that is used as the base of salves, soaps, adhesives and tobacco flavoring. In the pharmaceutical trade the gum is called "copalm balm" or "liquidambar." Early settlers used it to treat skin troubles, diphtheria, dysentery and catarrh. The gum from a species native to Turkey, L. orientalis, was prized as an incense in Christian and Indian temples.
Wildlife: This
species is used to only a small extent by wildlife. Birds, especially finches,
eat the seeds, as do squirrels and chipmunks. Beavers eat the wood.
Horticulture: Although the sweetgum is an excellent lawn tree, several drawbacks impact on its horticultural use. The spreading roots require space, the fleshy tap root makes it slow to re-establish after transplanting and it does not tolerate pollution. The prickly balls remain on the tree into winter, and can be messy-dropping from the tree over an extended period from December to April. 'Moraine' is the most cold-hardy cultivar, withstanding temperatures to minus 25 degrees F. It has brilliant red fall color and is a fast grower.
