Arnhild,
Sweet Gum is Liquidamber in Latin... a real pest tree here in USDA zone 7.
It would have no trouble in your zone 8. I've seen them growing in the UK.
The trees are very vigorous and difficult to kill.. I know because I've
tried!!! We usually use a bulldozer or backhoe to remove the stumps and the
roots are huge and very long. All this said, the trees are beautiful in
Autumn with color every bit as good as Maples. The gumballs are a real pain
and seeds sprout readily here.
Beth Matney
central Arkansas USDA zone 7b
Arnhild Bleie wrote:
I think a lot depends on location, Arnhild, as well as cultivar. Here in our zone
8 in the Pacific Northwest, sweet gums are very desirable shade trees and no more
difficult to remove than any other comparable shade tree of their size. The
variety most often sold here, Worplesdon, is known for its intense fall color and
lack of seed ball formation. They are planted extensively in my neighborhood as
street trees and are a sight to behold in the autumn.
Pam - gardengal
---> if it is this vigorous I am very afraid of starting it here ... could
come out of controll .. and I don't like the thought of me being the reason
some that .
Thanks for that info Beth.
Arnhild
After reading both Beth and Pam answers I was also thinking of that Beth
maybe have much warmer summer climate than me and Pam, and that could be
reason that sweet gum easily reseed there by Beth, but not up in PNW? And I
might have even more moderate summer than around Seattle, so there might
not be so many seeds on the tree here by me, and then it might not become a
'pest'? So I might sow some seeds .... ?
Arnhild
our zone
> 8 in the Pacific Northwest, sweet gums are very desirable shade trees and
no more
> difficult to remove than any other comparable shade tree of their size. The
> variety most often sold here, Worplesdon, is known for its intense fall
color and
> lack of seed ball formation. They are planted extensively in my
neighborhood as
Yes, our summers are long and hot here in Arkansas... much more so that
either the PNW or UK. I have been to both in summer. Arnhild, I assume that
your Norway climate would be similar to the UK?
I would suggest that you get one of the seedless cultivars. I know that
they are available in the EU. The gumballs are hard and prickly and react
like ball bearings if you step on them! Definately ground trash. A named
cultivar would be much more satisfying than random chance from seed. There
are some beautiful ones out there.
Beth Matney
central Arkansas USDA zone 7b, AHS 8
In a message dated 2/6/00 12:07:24 AM GMT Standard Time, abbl@ONLINE.NO
writes:
<< ---> if it is this vigorous I am very afraid of starting it here ... could
come out of controll .. and I don't like the thought of me being the reason
some that .
Thanks for that info Beth.
Arnhild >>
Hi Arnhild, I have liquidamber at the French house and have found it quite
difficult. It has taken at least 3 years to grow about 10 inches so I should
imagine they would be equally slow where you are. I think they are stunning
trees witht their coloured leaves.
Mary.
