Liquidambar formosana
Formosan gum · also Chinese sweet gum, Formosa sweet gum, Liquidambar
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Liquidambar formosana is a large deciduous tree native to Taiwan and China, known for its straight trunk and broad, rounded crown. Its distinctive five-lobed leaves offer striking autumn coloration, making it popular for urban planting. However, its vigorous root system can damage infrastructure, and its spherical fruits ("gum balls") create litter in spring.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 10,4126.4%—8.7 in
- 9800.43%—13 in
- 3690.11%—7.1 in
- 1000.02%35 yr9.0 in
- 80.00%12 yr5.9 in
- 30.00%—6.0 in
- 30.00%—4.5 in
- 30.00%—2.5 in
- 10.00%—5.6 in
- 10.00%—13 in
Traits
- Form
- Broadleaf
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Mature height
- 40–60 ft
- Canopy spread
- 25–30 ft
- Water needs
- Moderate
- Roots
- Invasive
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 9.1 in, mean 9.3 in, 90th percentile 16 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Tropical & Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
- South China Sea Islands
- South China-Vietnam subtropical evergreen forests
- South Taiwan monsoon rain forests
Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests
- Central China Loess Plateau mixed forests
- Southern Korea evergreen forests
Other Liquidambar in the catalogue
6 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
