How to Grow Sweetgum From Seed

The sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a long-lived, hardwood tree with a slow to medium growth rate. The tree is also referred to as red gum, alligator wood and gum ball tree. Sweetgum has a mature height of 60 to 75 feet with a 40- to 50-foot spread with a pyramidal mature form. The tree grows well in fertile, well-drained and slightly acidic soil in areas of full sun. You can grow your own sweetgum by collecting and planting the seed contained in their unusual looking, spiny fruit, which are often referred to as gumballs.

Small pot
Sweetgum seeds
Potting soil

Instructions

- 1
  Fill a 4-inch pot with a well draining, moist potting soil for starting your seed.
- 2
  Collect some mature gum balls or fruit from the tree before they dry completely. Spread the fruit in a warm, 68 degree Fahrenheit area for five to 10 days to dry completely.
- 3
  Shake the dried seed heads to remove the small, winged seeds. Plant seeds immediately by pressing them lightly into the prepared soil surface. Avoid planting very deep. Planting the seeds right away will allow the seeds the required three months of dormancy in the soil.
- 4
  Water well and keep the pot in a warm area and make sure potting soil does not dry out. Transplant to an outdoor location the following season when plants are healthy and strong.
- 5
  Stratify the seed if you do not wish to plant right away. Store the seed at 34 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit for one to two months before planting.

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