T r e e s  o f  N o r t h  C a r o l i n a

Liquidambar L. (Altingiaceae)

A genus of four or five species of trees; north temperate, of e. North America, Central America (Mexico to Nicaragua), e. Asia (s. China, Taiwan, Vietnam), and e. Mediterranean (Turkey, Rhodos, Cyprus).

One species occurs in North Carolina: Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum). It is native to the state.

Bark of Liquidambar styraciflua
Bark of Liquidambar styraciflua (Copyright W. Cook)
Twig of Liquidambar styraciflua
Twig of Liquidambar styraciflua (Photo: A. Krings, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)
Leaves of Liquidambar styraciflua
Leaves of Liquidambar styraciflua (Copyright W. Cook)
Flowers of Liquidambar styraciflua
Flowers of Liquidambar styraciflua (coming soon)
Fruits of Liquidambar styraciflua
Fruits of Liquidambar styraciflua (Copyright W. Cook)
N.C. distribution of Liquidambar styraciflua
N.C. distribution of Liquidambar sytraciflua

Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum)
(Common; swamp forests, floodplains, moist forests, depressional wetlands, old fields, disturbed areas ; Mt, Pd, CP; Fl: Apr-May, Fr: Aug-Sep)