Liquidambar styraciflua Andrew Hewson - American Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Andrew Hewson' is a variety of American sweetgum tree valued for its larger and more deeply cut leaves, which take on sumptuous colours from the arrival of autumn. The colouration will be even more intense in acidic and moist soil. It is a deciduous tree with a majestic, conical to pyramidal habit, particularly ornamental as a standalone tree or in a hedge, mixed with other deciduous or evergreen species. This variety has moderate growth, suitable for medium-sized gardens. Perfectly hardy, this American sweetgum tree tolerates moist and even clay soils, but not limestone.

The American sweetgum tree belongs to the family Hamamelidaceae, which includes many plants beautifully coloured in autumn such as Witch hazel, Ironwood, and Loropetalum. This majestic tree is native to North America, specifically the banks of major rivers such as the Mississippi and Ohio, for example. Its name, Liquidambar, comes from the Latin word "liquidus," meaning liquid, and the Arabic word "ambar," meaning amber, due to the aromatic amber-coloured resin that flows from its bark. Discovered in 1528, it was introduced to Europe in 1681.

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Andrew Hewson' is a fairly compact variety that reaches an average height of 15m (49 ft 2 in) in our gardens. Its growth rate is moderate. Over time, it develops a very vertical trunk topped with a fairly open crown, initially pyramidal and then wide, with a diameter at the base of about 10m. The lateral branches are harmoniously perpendicular to the trunk. The deciduous foliage is the main asset of this tree. It consists of larger palmate leaves with 5 to 7 slender lobes, the central lobe being longer than the others. The deeply toothed leaves are alternately arranged on the branches. Initially tender green, they quickly take on shades of burgundy, orange, yellow, and violet in autumn. The inconspicuous flowering occurs in April-May on subjects aged 25 years and older, in the form of upright male catkins separate from the female pendant yellow-green glomerules measuring 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 in) in diameter. After pollination, fruits form, which are tender green prickly pompoms that resemble those of the plane tree and persist until winter in this variety. Each fruit is composed of several capsules that contain small winged seeds, similar to maple samaras. The bark of the liquidambar is dark brown, with cork-like cracks. Older branches bear thick grey corky plates. The lifespan of this beautiful tree is about 150 years.

The 'Andrew Hewson' liquidambar is suitable for a specimen on a large lawn and in a large avenue or property boundary. The Liquidambar styraciflua is commonly found in parks, where it stands out for its superb autumn colours. You can associate it with other colourful trees such as the Ginkgo biloba, Nyssa sylvatica, large Japanese maples, and the bald cypress, which thrive in the same moist environments and deep soils.

Properties:

The aromatic resin exuded by the bark is also called styrax or liquidambar balm. It was formerly used in aromatherapy, primarily by indigenous populations, and then, upon its arrival in Europe, by cosmetic manufacturers who incorporated it into various preparations such as beauty creams. The wood of the liquidambar, with its reddish-brown colour and renowned scent was widely used in cabinetmaking for the production of precious furniture.