Liquidambar styraciflua, meaning “liquid amber” and “flowing
with gum,” refers to the sweet “gum” that exudes from wounds on
the trunk of this member of the witch-hazel (Hamamelidaceae)
family. Sweetgum is represented by 56 individuals and 8
cultivars at The Holden Arboretum. Liquidambar styraciflua is
native from southern Ohio to central Florida and from
southwestern Connecticut to eastern Texas. It is also native
from the Sierra Madre of Mexico into the cloud forests of
Central America to Nicaragua. The luna moth utilizes sweetgum as
one of its larval host species throughout the native range of
Liquidambar in the United States and northern Mexico. In early
to mid May the inconspicuous, wind-pollinated flowers appear
with the leaves. The foliage is a glossy deep green throughout
the summer. Several trees are located by the sidewalk in front
of the Warren H. Corning Visitor Center and by the parking lots.
Just east of Buttonbush Bog are sweetgum that also display a mix
of burgundy, red, orange and yellow from