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Liquidambar styraciflua 'Festival'
(Sweet Gum 'Festival')

Family - Hamamelidaceae
Category - Tree
Origin - Selected in California, USA
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H6
Height - up to 18m
Width - up to 12m

Description: A medium to large-sized Deciduous tree with an upright habit and a more narrow crown than the species. Glossy, bright green maple-like leaves are palmately lobed, usually with five to seven lobes. Male and female flowers are produced separately, but on the same plant (monoecious) from early to mid-spring. Both male and female flowers are small, green and not usually considered to be visually significant. The female flowers are followed by round, brown, spiky seed Capsules. The foliage will turn a rich shade of deep, burgundy red in early autumn and will usually remain on the tree until late autumn.

Flower:

Monoecious. Small, green male flowers are composed of many stamens and are held in dense racemes. Green female flowers are held in globular heads and are followed by brown, round, spiky seed capsules that persist on the plant long after the seeds have been released. Flowers are produced in March and April.

Flower colour: Green

Flower shape: Racemes or globular heads

Flowering time: March, April

Foliage:

Glossy, mid-green leaves are palmately lobed, usually with five to seven lobes. The leaves are Alternately arranged along the branches. The foliage turns a rich shade of deep red relatively early in autumn (September) and will remain on the plant until November.

Foliage Senescence: Deciduous

Foliage Shape: Palmately lobed

Autumn Colour: Red

Propagation:

Cuttings, grafting.

Cultivation:

Best in full sun to partial shade in moisture-retentive soil that is well-drained. The autumn colour is more pronounced when grown in acidic soil.