Family Hamamelidaceae.
Originating from USA.
Received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
- Maple-shaped green leaves form a dense vertical exclamation.
- One of the most spectacular autumn colour displays of any tree.
- Hardy and easy-to-grow in any soil in full sun.
The UK’s Finest Autumn Colour Tree in Your Garden
Starry five-pointed leaves make a dramatic impact, even from afar. Their slender central lobes extend well beyond four shorter ones, gracefully curving to a pointed tip. Prominent central veins add a further elegant detail making one of the most distinctive of all deciduous leaves.
The beautiful foliage is densely borne, making a column of vivid, fresh green all spring and summer. Its architectural, striking form has a soft texture, created by the multitudes of slender, pointed leaves. The lush and abundant crown reaches 12m high and 3m wide in 10–20 years. Hardy, vigorous, and easy to grow, it is suitable for all UK gardens.
Autumn brings a multi-coloured pyrotechnical display of colour unrivalled by any large tree, lighting up Norfolk and Suffolk’s gardens. Red, yellow, purple, and orange appear in its crown, sometimes unevenly at first, with green foliage remaining in swathes. The whole tree ignites in every colour except blue for many weeks; undoubtedly the finest UK autumn colour tree.
Growing Tips for Your Liquidambar ‘Slender Silhouette’
- Soil and Sun: Plant in non-alkaline, well-drained soil; full sun suits.
- Planting: Set in spring or autumn; summer planting requires extra attention to watering. Plunge for 20 minutes to drench the root ball before planting. Do not add compost or improvers to soil.
- Watering: Moderate; tolerates dry spells once established. Water regularly in its first summer whilst rooting out.
- Pruning: None required. Any trimming should be done in winter.
Its spring and summer display is augmented by showy, bright-green fruit which mellows to brown by autumn. Finally, its bare branches provide an elegant, upright tracery in winter, maintaining its architectural presence. This variety’s many assets go far beyond its reputation as the UK’s best autumn colour tree. Its structural qualities are indispensable, making an outstanding specimen for contemporary and traditional English gardens.
Planting Ideas for the Slender Sweet Gum
Venture into a vertical vista of architectural delights. Plant this special variety with other columnar trees and shrubs to create a unique, layered composition. Plant Cupressus sempervirens ‘Totem Pole’, Frangula ‘Ron Williams’, Prunus ‘Amanogawa’, and Albizia julibrissin ‘Shidare’ for a sculptural composition of slender forms.
Amongst the towering, dramatic spires of foliage, add rounded and soft plants for contrast. Planting a floral flourish to flow around this multi-level display of arresting forms is the final touch. Add Euphorbia ‘Phrampton Phatty’ and ‘John Philips’, Pittosporum ‘County Park’ and ‘Beach Ball’. Adorn with Eryngium ‘Big Blue’, Agapanthus ‘Queen Mum’, ‘Twister’, and ‘Poppin Purple’ for cool drifts of colour.
