Sweetgum

Sweetgum is a native, deciduous tree in the witch hazel family. It?s noted for large, star-shaped 5 to 7 lobed dark green leaves and for its spiny, capsular, small fruit which fall off through fall and winter. It is among the last to leaf out in spring and last to lose its leaves in the fall. The sweet gum can live more than 150 years, and doesn’t flower or produce seed for the first 15 to 20 years of its growth. The tree attracts wildlife including blue jays, cardinals, mourning doves, squirrels, chipmunks and luna moths. It is considered a hardwood and is used in furniture and plywood. The resin the tree produces has been used in folk medicine as well as in chewing gum.