Appearance, features and more

When do the fruits ripen?

The fruit of the sweetgum ripens in autumn. You can recognize ripeness by the fact that the fruits open or have opened. There are two flaps that open and from which seeds fall.

Wait for 20 years

But be careful: not everyone Sweetgum tree bears fruit. A sweetgum tree does not bloom until it is around 20 years old - from variety different to variety - for the first time. That means you have to wait around 20 years for the first fruits to appear.

External characteristics of the fruit

This is what the fruits of the sweetgum look like:

• spherical
• 2 to 3 cm tall
• consist of numerous lignified capsules that are connected (up to 40 capsules per fruit)
• hanging on long green stems
• grouped in bundles (similar to grapes)
• first green, later brown
• studded with spines
• remotely reminiscent of morning stars

Sterile and fertile seeds

In autumn, the seeds fall out and lie on the ground. The majority of the seeds are sterile, i.e. not capable of germination. They are small and angular. The few fertile seeds are larger, elliptical in shape, dark brown in color and have membranous wings. They are carried away with the help of the wind.

The flowers - inconspicuous

The blossoms of the sweetgum tree are much more inconspicuous than the fruits. A main reason will be that they appear in time with the fresh leaves. Like the leaves, their color is a lush green.

The flowering period usually begins in May (less often in April). The flowers are unisexual. That is, there are male and female flowers. The male inflorescences stand upright. They are reminiscent of the closed inflorescences of chestnuts. The ears are between 5 and 7 cm long. The female inflorescences droop and are composed of balls.