View Messages

Return to Tree Planting

Gumball Trees (i.e., Sweetgum)

[Post a Follow Up] [Post to this category]
From: Meredith Luibel
City:
Munford, TN
Can you plant the seeds that gumball trees drop, and have them grow trees?

 
Extension Message
From: Jay Hayek
Extension Specialist, Forestry
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
jhayek@illinois.edu
Greetings Meredith:

The tree you are speaking of is called sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). Their fruit is referred to as a ball of capsules. Inside these balls are tiny black/brown seeds that often exhibit low germination potential.

If you are really interested in learning more about propagating sweetgum from seed, please feel free to refer to the following publication:

plants.usda.gov/factsheet/doc/fs_list2.doc

Best of luck!

 
[Post a Follow Up] [Post to this category]
 
Return to Illinois Forestry.
Search current board