General: The american sweetgum is common in southeastern North America. It develops into a medium-sized picture book tree (approx. 20m) with a straight, continuous trunk and a rounded crown. The shoots form very interesting, attractive cork ridges and the lobed leaves are splendidly colored in autumn. This ranges from deep purple, violet brown, yellow orange to scarlet and wine red. Each leaf is colored a little differently, and after all the leaves have fallen off, small, spherical and prickly fruits remain on the tree, which adorn the tree in winter.
Care as a bonsai: As a bonsai, the sweetgum should also be raised with the typical straight trunk. With its unique autumn color and the cork strips, it has a special potential as a bonsai. The plants do not have any special requirements and should therefore be bright and regularly watered and fertilized. However, the plant is sensitive to late frosts. Young branches, like the trunk, strive straight up and need to be wired in good time.
