Plants: Liquidambar acalycina 'Burgundy Flush' - Chinese sweetgum

Sweetgums are very popular trees, some come from the USA, others from Asia. Thanks to the leaf shape they are often mistaken for maples. However, sweetgum leaves are more star-shaped and usually smaller. They fall down late, usually in early winter and the tree is decorated with fruits, which are small, spiny spheres.

Burgundy Flush is an American selection of Chinese sweetgum which is unique sweetgum species. It makes 3-lobed, quite large – almost 20 cm across, deciduous leaves. They emerge burgundy red in spring and mature to olive green in summer, yet the leaves at the ends of the branches remain flushed red throughout the season if planted in full sun. In autumn green leaves turn amber orange and red leaves show more prominent red shades. It grows moderately fast, about 30-40 cm per year, forming a rather symmetrical pyramidal shape becoming more oval with age.

Chinese sweetgum likes any fertile to medium rich soil, well-drained, preferably acidic and evenly moist. When established it can take temporary flooding. Fully hardy to about -27°C (USDA zone 5b).

Size/type: medium-sized tree
Usual height: 8-13m
Usual width: 3-5m
Leaves: deciduous broadleaf
Colour of leaves: multicoloured / green a deep red
Flowers: insignificant or non-blooming
Location: full to partial sun
Usda zone (lowest): 5b (down to -27°c)