Slender Silhouette Sweetgum

About this plant

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette' Sweetgum is a strikingly elegant cultivar of the native American sweetgum tree, prized for its narrow, columnar growth habit that makes it ideal for tight urban spaces and formal landscapes. This deciduous tree showcases deeply lobed, star-shaped leaves that emerge bright green in spring, turning vibrant shades of crimson, orange, and gold in autumn, adding exceptional seasonal interest. Known for its distinctive corky, ridged bark and spiky fruit balls, ‘Slender Silhouette’ grows more upright and compact compared to typical sweetgums, reaching heights of 40 to 50 feet but only about 10 to 15 feet wide, which makes it an excellent choice for street tree planting or as an architectural specimen. Native to the eastern United States, sweetgums have a long history of use both ornamentally and for their aromatic resin. This cultivar has been recogn

Plant details

Mature height

50 ft.

Mature width

12 ft.

Growth rate

Fast

USDA zones

5-9

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Water needs

High

Soil

Clay, Loamy, Sandy, Well Drained

Spacing

15 ft.

Bloom season

Non-Flowering