Wednesday Street Tree #13

American sweetgum

I have been poised waiting for the perfect sweetgum to cross my path for some weeks. I had anticipated this would be a tree I might be sending you in December, but, along came Storm Bert and by Sunday, many previously leafy species, including sweetgums, were looking very denuded. This then is a bit of a panic sweetgum. I worry that a well-clothed example of one of the most reliably splendid autumnal trees may soon be difficult to find. In some years, I have seen sweetgums still looking lovely into January, but maybe that is a blip – if Atlantic storms become more prevalent earlier in the season, trees with larger leaves may lose them earlier too.

American sweetgums have been planted abundantly in London and elsewhere in the UK over the last couple of decades, and now many are beginning to reach decent sizes. The one I picture here was planted, I’m guessing, in about 2006-7 (thanks to Google streetview, we can see it was a sapling back in 2008).

I’m sure there will be a couple more weeks of Wednesday leafiness to come before we get into stark winter trees.

Sweetgum’s maple-like leaves, and round, woody fruits.

What is it?

American sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua

Where is it?

Cathcart Hill, London N19 5QN
///code.press.glue | 51.559711, -0.139893

Limited edition photographic prints

I have released a series of high quality photographic prints available in limited editions of 25. Each image is 14x10, and is available framed or unframed. A certificate of authenticity will accompany every print signed by me and showing the edition number. There are nine images of London trees available now, I hope to add some more from other twins and cities in the future. They are ideal Christmas gifts for tree lovers!