🚀 go-pugleaf

Hi All,
Been a while since I contributed to newsgroups, but I have some info
here that all of you might be interested in, concerning Liquidambars:

-Regarding the Seed-Balls:

 As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, there is indeed a variety
(actually, to be botanically correct, it's a cultivar) that is seedless
(!!), but since the contributor didn't mention which it was, I identify
it here: It is Liquidambar styraciflua 'Rotundiloba'

In addition to its useful seedless nature, the leaves have cool-looking
rounded tips (rather than pointed ones), and all the autumn color of
the regular variety.

Planting this variety solves half of the objectionable behavior of this
very pretty tree.

-Regarding Size and invasiveness of root system:

There is another cultivar which is a natural dwarf (never gets taller
than 10 feet or so, and then only after many years of steady growing).
That cultivar is: Liquidambar styraciflua 'Gumball'. It too makes the
lovely autumn foliage like the regular species, although it tends to
color up much later in the season (ours are just in their glory now).
Also, although it does tend to make a few seedballs, because it's a
dwarf (and therefore lack the mass-production capabilities of the
regular species), the problem is barely noticeable. All in all a very
well behaved shrub, with a self-limiting root system, far less likely
to damage sewer lines, foundations, sidewalks, etc.

-Other maples in the Bay Area:

Not to nay-say anyone, but many different species of Maple do well in
the Bay Area, esp. outside the hotter areas. A visit to the local
arboreta (esp. in autumn) is an enjoyable way to see just how well a
wide variety of Acers do around here. Important Note: Acers are
susceptible to Verticillium Wilt, so unless you want to regularly
spray/drench with Phyton to keep your plants alive, if you live in one
of the patches where this disease has taken hold, you may want to plant
resistant species.

-Other liquidambars: I believe there are at least 2 other species of
Liquidambar, both with horticultural merit. L. orientalis (from China,
I think) and a second Asian species, whose name I dont recall right now.


Cheers!


David Deutsch


In article <3A350930.627A2B0B@svpal.org>,
  silk@svpal.org wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Only Japanese maples grow in SF bay area, not full-grown ones like I
used
> to enjoy when I lived in New England (Connecticut) and the Midwest
> (Illinois).
>
> I think the trees you want are Liquidambar which have star-shaped or
> maple-shaped leaves and turn beautiful colors in the fall.  The seed
pods
> are the clue to identification.  If the seeds look like winged paper
toys,
> they are maples. If the seeds look like hard brown thorny meatballs
with
> open holes filled with seeds, the trees are Liquidambar styraciflua
(aka
> Sweetgum, commonly seen in Southeast and milder climates in in the
U.S.)
>
> We have these glorious deciduous trees lining the street in our
> neighborhood.  They're messy, but beautiful and worth planting for
their
> fall colors, nice shade in summer, and quaint seed pods which hang on
to
> attract birds in the winter.
>
> Shirley Lin Kinoshita
> keethieDRAT@keethie.net wrote:
>
> > Hi, I'm trying to find out what kind of lovely autumnal deciduous
trees
> > those are growing on the Foothill Junior College campus. I'm pretty
sure
> > they are some kind of maple. Over the past couple of weeks, their
leaves
> > looked almost like they're lit from inside. like neon lights. I'd
like
> > to buy my spouse a sapling for Xmas. Can anyone help me?


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