Doherty Drive

American sweet gum is more commonly known in the west by its genus name, liquidambar. It is a deciduous species native from eastern North America to Mexico. In its native habitat it is known to grow to over 100 ft. tall.

When it became fashionable in California to seek trees that would show fall color, liquidambar was thought to be the perfect choice because the vivid fall color develops without cold temperatures. It was planted in huge numbers in parks, yards and sidewalk cut outs. 

Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out to be a perfect choice for sidewalk plantings due to a propensity to form surface roots especially in heavy or compacted soil.  As a result, many beautiful trees have been removed because of conflicts with infrastructure.

Mature trees produce copious spiny seed pods that dangle charmingly from branches in the winter, but can be a nuisance when they fall to the ground.

There are many cultivars available with various fall color choices, even one that doesn’t set seed pods, but choose the planting location wisely.

Doherty Drive in the fall.

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Fall 2014. The liquidambars on Doherty Drive were carefully preserved when the Rose Lane housing project was installed.