Sweetgum trees are messy.
I probably wouldn't have identified a winter-bare sweetgum tree on a street corner today, if it hadn't been for the seedballs. The lawn and sidewalk beneath the tree's wide canopy were covered with them. Car tires had thrown many more seedballs against a concrete median in the street (photo above).
Sweetgum balls are woody, so they don't disintegrate quickly. A homeowner who wants a well-groomed lawn will need to rake up the prickly seedballs. They fall throughout winter, so they might have to be raked several times. Any seedballs left in the grass will be an unpleasant surprise for summer's barefoot strollers.
In an urban setting, the seeds from the spiny balls may be eaten by birds, squirrels, and chipmunks. In the wild, sweetgums often grow in swampy areas, and there, the seeds are also enjoyed by beavers.
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a tall native tree of the southeastern U.S. In Kentucky, we are in the northern part of the sweetgum's natural range, though it is also found in southern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, near and within the Ohio River valley.
Sweetgum trees are noteworthy for their foliage. Their leaves are star-shaped, and their fall color may be orange, bright red or purple. The beauty of the leaves helps make up for the messiness of the tree's seed dispersal process.
"The power to recognize trees at a glance without examining their leaves or flowers or fruit as they are seen, for example, from the car-window during a railroad journey, can only be acquired by studying them as they grow under all possible conditions over wide areas of territory. Such an attainment may not have much practical value, but once acquired it gives to the possessor a good deal of pleasure which is denied to less fortunate travelers."
4 comments -- please add yours:
Sweetgum balls are one of my favorite "seed pods."
We use the seedballs for ornaments on our solstice shrub in winter. They are a beautiful addition to your arrangements or trees over the holiday season, and best of all they are natural. Everything goes right out to the compost pile at the end of the holiday season.
I was reminded a few days ago that the seedballs should be raked up and removed from a lawn. My future son-in-law described his memories of sweetgum balls, ricocheted out of a lawn mower. They can really hurt you.
The Christmas tree (or solstice shrub) would certainly be a safe, low-velocity place to enjoy the seedballs' unique structure.
Hi There
Thought you might be interested to know that my friend and I were out for a drive along the Niagara River. We live in Niagara Falls, Ontario. We spotted a gorgeous tree - that actually had star pointed leaves - that were yellow some were green, and some were the scarlet red. At first I thought it might be in the maple family, but then saw the round pickly fruit balls. We found your blog checking out gumball trees - as my husband loves trees and suggested the name.
Appreciate your info. Are the seeds edible for humans?
Thank you
Margaret
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