Sweet Gum

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades shaped like 5 to 7 pointed stars, each point toothed along the edge, as much as six inches long and nearly as broad. In autumn, the leaves turn a variety of colors, from red to yellow to purple.

Buds: Large, shiny, pointed, sometimes sticky to touch.

Bark: Usually dark gray and broken into scaly ridges.

Twigs: Stout, often bordered by corky wings; leaf scars alternated, with 3 bundle traces.

Flowers: Staminate and pistillate on the same tree crowded together in rounded clusters, opening at about the same time as the leaves unfold.

Fruits: The fruit or seed “ball” is about one inch diameter, covered by numerous short, often sharp projections, with many seeds, most of which are incapable of germinating.

Wood: Hard, strong, durable.

Uses: Lumber, furniture, flooring. The attractive leaves make this tree a handsome ornamental.

Habitat: Bottomland Woods.

Growth Form: Up to 100 feet tall; trunk diameter sometimes more than 3 feet; crown usually pyramidal.

Distinguishing Feature: The star-shaped leaves and leaf color variety in autumn readily distinguish this tree.