Sweet Gum Trees
- Cameron Jewell
- Jun 2, 2025
- 3 min read
Liquidambar styracflua - Also known as Sweet Gum
This hardwood species can be found through most of the south east states, Eastern Texas, out west in Arkansas and north towards Illinois!
You can even find this tree growing south of America - including Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala! These adaptable trees can grow in a variety of soils and temperaments - which I appreciate about a plant and the medicine it offers.
Adaptability is necessary for survival.
I have always felt a gentle pull towards these trees so I am very excited to research and learn more about them and share with you!
Walking through the woods in Florida, I find myself admiring the leaves of these trees that remind me of maples or jumping when I step on one of their seed pods - also known as “gumballs” or “goblin balls”.
Sweet gum trees are often mistaken as maple trees.
After you know how to spot the difference, it becomes easy to know who is who.
Maple trees have opposite leaf arrangements - which means two leaves will seem to connect at the same place on the branch rather than an alternate leaf arrangement, which the sweet gums have, where the leaves form more of a zig zag shape where they connect (if you were to play connect the dots with the leaves)
If you crush the leaves of a Sweet Gum tree, they have a citrusy smell to them, maple leaves do not.
Of course, there are more ways to identify these trees - and I will be adding some resources at the end of this blog if you would like to dive deeper into Sweet Gum!
Sweet Gum trees are often planted to provide shade and support local wildlife.
Pictured here are the “gumballs” or seeds of the Sweet Gum Trees. These seeds have a history of being prepared and used as medicine.
The medicine most often spoken about is found in the immature, green seed pods - before they turn brown. The seeds contain an acid called shikimic acid, which is used to make Tamiflu, an antiviral drug used to fight influenza.
One of the coolest things about these seed pods is that they actually look like a virus molecule!
If you’re not familiar with the doctrine of signatures, it is the idea that some plants and foods will resemble the organs or body systems that they help to remedy!
Some examples include:
Walnuts resemble a brain and are said to be supportive to brain function
The inside of a carrot resembles the eye and is said to support eye health
& so on!
Sweet Gum seed pods resemble a virus molecule and are said to be effective against viral infections! (Remember, you want the young, green pods for the best results).
It is not only the seed pods that offer medicine!
Historically, the bark and resin have also been used as medicine.
According to Francis Peyre Porcher - a decoction of the inner bark, in either milk or water, is excellent for clearing and tonifying mucous membranes!
A syrup of the bark can be made and used as a substitute to Wild Cherry Bark for respiratory support.
The leaves have been used instead of oak bark for the tanning of leather!
The Sweet Gum tree is said to get its name because the resin can be used to make chewing gum - as well as medicine for the lungs, digestive tract, and urinary tract.
These are just a few interesting characteristics of this tree that I wanted to share with you!
To learn more, click on some of the resources that I have listed below.
I hope to see you out in the woods on one of our Foraging for Friends plant walks!
Cameron Jewell
RESOURCES:
Book: Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests, Medical, Economical and Agricultural; Being also a Medical Botany of the Southern States with Practical Information on the Useful Properties of the Trees, Plants, and Shrubs.
DISCLAIMER
I am not a botanist. I am a medical herbalist with a passion for plants. I write these articles to share with those who join us on our Foraging for Friends plant walks and anyone else who has an interest in learning more about plants and trees that grow near us! There are many fantastic resources out there and I highly recommend you explore some listed here as well as others you will find on your own!
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