Only time will tell. It did serve as a curative for Confederate soldiers' dysentery, and was harvested during the Second World War when Asian supplies were cut off. This is a pattern for all you Southern folks that have these seed pods to clean up every fall from your yard. If you have hard, compacted soil that you are trying to amend, dig deep and place a thick layer of the seed pods down to help aerate and drain–cover back up with soil and other amendments The pods would also be great for making wreaths or ornaments. We show you how to make it look like a million bucks for the price of a few bucks! Six Great Things To Use Sweetgum Balls For: The spiky seed pods from the sweetgum tree are not only fascinating to look at, they can actually help out in the garden. While you wait, the tree has much to offer. Along the rivers of the south-eastern United States, Sweet gums exceed 125 ft. in height and 4 ft. in diameter. Names. Medicinal use of Sweet Gum: A resin obtained from the trunk of the tree (see "Uses notes" below) is antiseptic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, parasiticide, poultice, salve, sedative, stimulant, vulnerary. Common Uses: Veneer, plywood, furniture (speaker/acoustic cabinets), interior trim, boxes/crates, and turned objects. They reproduce within a host cell, then utilize a protein to burst the cell, releasing many replicates to infect other cells. They were formerly often treated in Hamamelidaceae.They are decorative deciduous trees that are used in the wood industry and for ornamental purposes. Extracts from the sap have shown promise in fighting drug-resistant bacteria and hypertension. Native Americans used a decoction of leaves or roots as a wash to treat injuries. [5] – Martin, E., Duke, J., Pelkki, M. et al. For external use it is usually made into an ointment with lard or oil. Many internet sources and people over-complicate the art of making compost. I built a barn for a vacation cabin and am using wood I saw to finish it out - hard maple flooring, building my own cabinets, etc. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Graduate Theses and Dissertations. Sweet gum sap has caught the attention of medical researchers, and we know that much of its folkloric uses are now backed with scientific reasoning. Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry, vol 5. Summer shade and vibrant fall leaf color are merits of the sweet gum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua). [6] The Powhatan Indians utilized dried bark mixed with bark of Red Oak to make an infusion used to treat dysentery. Your email address will not be published. In high school I got my first job at a garden center where I learned to garden and landscape. The sweet gum tree has long been used for medicinal purposes and as a source of hardwood for furniture. The sticky or gummy sap of sweet gums serves a purpose for the tree. But, for centuries Sweet Gum trees have been used for everything from Chewing gum, lumber, and medicine. The flu, or Influenza is caused by a virus. Second to that is the sweet gum. Despite the world demand for liquidambar through the centuries, little was done with the yield of the North American sweet gum tree. Let’s not forget about the beauty of the Sweet Gum Ball Tree itself. Mature leaves are 4 to 7 inches (10 to 18 cm.) We’re having a perfect fall in Ohio. This includes bark beetles, leaf hoppers and others. It is rated as a fast growing tree and will tolerate moist soils. 2503-2505. So, the Sweet Gum tree allows us to have a renewable domestic source of the key ingredient of Tamiflu. We are a husband and wife duo. Today, the active ingredient of the infertile sweetgum seeds, which contain high amounts of shikimic acid, is used in the preparation of Tamiflu, but other than that is … The sweetgum has a Nahuatl name, Ocotzocuahuitl, which translates to tree that gives pine resin from ocotl (pine), tzotl (resin), cuahuitl (tree), which refers to the use of the tree's resin. Copyright © 2020 EG Media Investments LLC. Medicinally today it is used in a lot of common off the shelve products including cough and cold syrups and rubs helping relative congestion. Its resin, for which the genus is named, is valuable in incense production and for various medicinal purposes. I believe sweetgum would work very well as paneling where each board is free to move unconstrained. Historically, in parts … Uses for sweet gum tree: The sweet gum is a perfect choice for parks, large lots, and street plantings (as long as the tree's massive roots are not in the way). Flag. In the past, this tree has been used for the making of soaps, adhesives, and in medicines, particularly by Native Americans. The name Gum tree originated from the sap excreted from the bark that looks gum like … Qualities and Uses for Sweet Gum A small sawmiller sees his first load of Gum wood, and gets advice about its value and how to handle it. An amazingly iconic and dominate specimen of Australian flora is the Eucalyptus tree or more commonly known as the Gum tree.The name Eucalyptus, being derived from Greek eu – well – kaluptos – covered, a clear reference to its unique flowers. June 22, 2005. Hi - I grew up outdoors in nature - hiking, fishing, hunting. They are tall with a lovely ovular shape, commonly reaching heights of 70 feet or more. Use a knife to slice to the cambrian layer of bark, and return in a week to collect the dried sap. Print. This video is a day late, but it's here. There is quite a lot of good wrapped up in this amazing tree. Sweetgum was mentioned in writing by historians traveling with Cortes who witnessed the Aztecs using sweetgum to flavor the tobacco they smoked. The tradeoff for these perks is a source of aggravation for some gardeners: round, spiny fruits, or balls, that litter the ground, making a simple walk across the yard a precarious one. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. Her with a love of HOME DECOR DIY.  We hope to provide you with handy how-tos to start or enhance your own home gardens, as well as provide you with plans on how to make some popular home decor projects, both easily & inexpensively. p162. In the South Eastern United States, Sweet Gum trees are utilized for lumber and furniture making. Let me know what can be done with this wood, it's beautiful! Composting 102 - Building a Basic Compost Pile. Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) is a drug that is very successful in shortening the duration and severity of the flu. Sweet gum is a deciduous, forest-dwelling tree, growing as high as 150 feet, the tree is covered with rough, gray bark; but the branchlets are reddish-brown and often have corky ridges. (1989) Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.). Sweet gum is a larval host plant for the beautiful luna moth. Most people view sweet gum wood as a luxury that should be used for lumber and furniture production. These Breeds Are Great For Backyards. The Sweet Gum tree is the sand spur of the forest. Our experts will call you on your preferred time. It is used for its lumber, and is one of the most common sources of hardwood and plywood, but also produces spectacular colors as it drops its leaves in the fall. Menu Ask a Question Share a Post Account Search. You painfully find them with your feet. The lumber from Sweet Gum heartwood has a dark rich color and is often used for speaker boxes and various forms of furniture, cabinetry, or doors [1]. I have used sycamore successfully as secondary wood like drawer sides. From pioneers to modern day children have known how to obtain chewing gum from the Sweet Gum tree. Tamiflu is distilled from shikimic acid, which is present in the Sweet Gum tree. Better Than Wild Bird Feeders? Sweet gum wood, though, has been another story. We’ve had just enough rain and moderately warm days that the leaves are easing slowly into the final drop. Sweet Gum trees have interlocked grain that will result in potentially high amounts of lumber warping during the drying process regardless of saw method. [1] – Sutter E.G. Required fields are marked *. It takes the sweet gum tree 20 to 30 years to mature enough to produce its fruit. (eds) Trees II. The sweet gum got its name for the resinous sap that results when you score its bark. I hope to share some of my knowledge with you! Resin from the sap of Sweet Gum tree is used in the drug Storax. [2] – Strength and stiffness properties of sweetgum and yellow-poplar structural lumber. I've been growing plants from seed and designing native plant gardens for over six years. But in New York City, the sweet gum is a fairly common sight, growing best where there is rich, loamy soil with good moisture. The balsam is used effectively externally for wounds and for skin problems. The sweetgum produces a resin that can harden and be used for chewing gum as well as medicinal purposes. Trained in ethnobotany, she travels across the country to speak about botanical wellness using functional foods and home health proficiency. My mother bought it for me as a birthday present—I can’t remember which birthday, and that probably means it was quite some time ago. You know, the black plastic trays that plants come in? Sweet Gum trees are commonly used as ornamental trees, and/or landscaping. The sticky or gummy sap of sweet gums serves a purpose for the tree. We have loads of color, and I’ve been enjoying some of my favorite trees as I drive around the community. The tree … 0. In this article I will detail what these uses are, and how they are utilized. In: Bajaj Y.P.S. [3] – A Guide to Medicinal Plants of Appalachia. Native Americans and pioneers also used the sap for a number of medicinal purposes. They may be available in craft shops in the North, or … Uses for Sweet Gum Balls. This one surprised me! Liquidambar, commonly called sweetgum (star gum in the UK), gum, redgum, satin-walnut, or American storax, is the only genus in the flowering plant family Altingiaceae and has 15 species. Cherokee Indians used the inner bark to make a green tea infusion as a sedative to calm nerves. Those spiny balls, seed pods, dropped by your sweet gum tree can actually be put to good use. The deeply cut grey or … I absolutely love the huge sugar maple that is halfway between our shop in town and the farm. This year, however, it has finally come into its own. The Cherokee utilized the Sweet Gum tree (bark/sap) as a Diaphoretic, Febrifuge, Dermatological treatment and as a general medicine. December 17, 2007 This wreath is made from the seed pods from the sweet gum tree. I might change my mind about which tree I love the best in fall. They were formerly often treated in Hamamelidaceae. By Arnold Krochmal, Russell S. Walters, Richard M. Doughty. Eucalyptus tree Oil produced predominantly by the leaves can be used for cleaning, a natural insecticide, and has therapeutic and medicinal properties. Sweet gum wood is a favorite for furniture, and the sap is added to tincture of benzoin and found often in incense. Sweet gum, a tree of the Witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae), native of the eastern United States, also Mexico and Central America. After initial drying, Sweet Gum wood is stable and should not be expected to move much. Additionally, there are several species of mushroom that grow on the bark. Read on to learn the details of these uses of the Sweet Gum tree (with references). Pin. When the seeds mature they turn black, but while they are still yellow they contain shikimic acid, the same ingredient in Tamiflu that was originally harvested only from star anise. Back to Top Use them in the bottom of planters as the drainage filler instead of stones 6. The sweet gum is certainly making a valiant effort to persuade me. The seeds contained within all those spikes are anticonvulsant and have possible applications for epilepsy. [2] So, Sweet Gum lumber could be used in general construction pending the expected loads. I will never try to use it in tables and furniture where flatness is important. The vicious seed pods have impaled many a forager and has done much to ruin the Sweet Gums reputation. The trees’ spike ball fruit is almost as telltale for identification as the star-shaped leaves. Sweet gum resin or sap may stick to your teeth. T. D. Faust, R. H. McAlister, S. J. Zarnoch. Enrich et al., 2008. The downside to growing a sweetgum tree is the seed pods. Sweet Gum : Medicinal Uses . Research has shown that the mechanical properties of Sweet Gum meet or exceed the Tulip Tree, Liriodendron tulipifera. For coughs and respiratory congestion due to colds, the gum can be taken for expectoration or for sore throat. Provide Shelter For Winter Roosting! [7]. Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.): Extraction of Shikimic Acid Coupled to Dilute Acid Pretreatment. The sweetgum produces a resin that can harden and be used for chewing gum as well as medicinal purposes. [6] – Hutton, Kimberly, “A Comparative Study of the Plants Used for Medicinal Purposes by the Creek and Seminoles Tribes” (2010). Who knew?! All rights reserved. [5] Both of these can be distilled with water. Quiet Chickens? Thanks for watching! It is said to help clear the lungs/sinuses, have somewhat antiseptic properties, and can be used to treat scabies. If you’d like to grow your own sweet gum, first understand that it’s a commitment to a tree that many describe as a … Save. Birds eat the seeds from the pods, while rodents and squirrels eat seeds that fall to the ground. wide. Tetrahedron Lett, 49 (2008), pp. Sweet gum, a tree of the Witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae), native of the eastern United States, also Mexico and Central America. It is not, however, sweet. Erin E. Morgan, James E. Perry, [8] – A Guide to Medicinal Plants of Appalachia. The sweetgum is a monoecious species and is pollinated primarily by wind. The Sweet Gum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) has many commercial, medicinal, edible and residential uses. It grows fast for a rapid harvest, yielding lumber and veneer for furniture-making. Sweet gum wood is a favorite for furniture, and the sap is added to tincture of benzoin and found often in incense. A sweet gum is a deciduous tree in the witch hazel family that ranges in height from 60 to 100 feet and has a narrow oval canopy. This one surprised me! Liquidambar, commonly called sweetgum (star gum in the UK), gum, redgum, satin-walnut, or American storax, is the only genus in the flowering plant family Altingiaceae and has 15 species. Native Americans traditionally used the inner bark and resin to help wounds, sore throats, coughs, and to treat infectious diarrhea. I enjoy designing/building projects (with hand tools when I can!). By Arnold Krochmal, Russell S. Walters, Richard M. Doughty, [4] – Liquidambar styraciflua: a renewable source of shikimic acid. [8] This includes deer, hogs, goats, and rabbits. Several species are … Sweet gum is hardy in zones 5-9. Herb: Sweet Gum Latin name: Liquidambar styraciflua Family: Hamamelidaceae (Witch-hazel Family) Medicinal use of Sweet Gum: A resin obtained from the trunk of the tree (see "Uses notes" below) is antiseptic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, parasiticide, poultice, salve, sedative, stimulant, vulnerary. Along the rivers of the south-eastern United States, Sweet gums exceed 125 ft. in height and 4 ft. in diameter. It's considered a valuable tree used for lumber and furniture production, as well as for ornamental purposes. Welcome to Growit Buildit! If you’d like to grow your own sweet gum, first understand that it’s a commitment to a tree that many describe as a nuisance. Let me know what can be done with this wood, it's beautiful! 2010 Virginia Natural History Society. Share. When cut, it exudes a sticky, resinous gum or balsam. Sweet gum is a larval host plant for the beautiful luna moth. This is a guide about uses for sweet gum balls. Historically, in parts of Appalachia twigs would be soaked in water or brandy and then utilized to clean the teeth. Category Advice. We have a sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) in the front yard. Viruses cannot reproduce on their own, and need to find host cells. Sweet gum, (genus Liquidambar), sometimes spelled sweetgum, genus of 15 species of deciduous trees, the only genus of the family Altingiaceae. The American sweet gum tree was so named because of the amber-colored, resinous sweet sap that was scraped from the inside of the bark to produce a chewing gum-like substance. Thanks for watching! Please let us know a convenient time to call you on, (*All time slots are available in CDT zone.). Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry, Strength and stiffness properties of sweetgum and yellow-poplar structural lumber, A Guide to Medicinal Plants of Appalachia, Liquidambar styraciflua: a renewable source of shikimic acid, Extraction of Shikimic Acid Coupled to Dilute Acid Pretreatment, A Comparative Study of the Plants Used for Medicinal Purposes by the Creek and Seminoles Tribes, Traditional Medicinal Plant Use Among Virginia’s Powhatan Indians. I make over 50... DIY Plastic Plant Tray Holder - Gardening Hack. Resin from the sap of Sweet Gum tree is used in the drug Storax. Ever since the days of the Aztec Empire, the sweet gum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) has been of great use. Go out with a bucket and fill it with seed pods, and in the spring you may just use some: 1. He with a love & extensive self-taught knowledge of NATIVE PLANTS, GARDENING, and woodworking. The resin also serves many medicinal purposes. The bark has been used to relieve diarrhea and dysentery. The fruit it bears provides food for many animals including squirrels, wood ducks, whitetail deer, birds, and beavers. [3]. It is used for its lumber, and is one of the most common sources of hardwood and plywood, but also produces spectacular colors as it drops its leaves in the fall. link to Composting 102 - Building a Basic Compost Pile, link to DIY Plastic Plant Tray Holder - Gardening Hack, Trees II. No need for fancy tools or big budgets! Used to treat ringworm. There is quite a lot of good wrapped up in this amazing tree. Splitting sweet gum is without a doubt going to be a challenge. The first step to making your own compost is to learn and understand how to make a proper compost pile. That is what I intend to do with the beautiful sweet gum that I have. Numerous insects feed on the Sweet Gum tree. Perhaps it is time for some rehabilitation. I hope to give you some tips and useful information! Small mammals and deer eat young Sweet Gum saplings and foliage. This large tree provides shade in the summer, gorgeous orange, red, and yellow leaves in the fall, and is a great privacy barrier. The height and shape make them great shade trees and beautiful additions to landscape. The first-known written mention of the American sweetgum dates back to 1519, when the resinous liquid amber was used in ceremonies between Spanish conquistador Cortez and Aztec emperor Montezuma. It’s too late in the season to harvest sweet gum for its flu fighting abilities, but look for the immature pods next year. Either that or make small boxes. Sweet gum has some surprising uses and it is beautiful in the fall. The deeply cut grey or … It is a potent anti-fungal and an effective natural pesticide. This is because it inhibits the protein that allows the virus to burst from it’s host cell. Production is near an all-time high, and the supply has been slowly increasing because sweetgum grows and reproduces well. Your email address will not be published. Sweet gum trees are found throughout the eastern United States. Splitting Sweet Gum. Additionally I am a wood worker / DIY enthusiast. This can be used as chewing gum. Gum Tree Gum Tree Spiritual Meaning and Medicinal Uses. We like to reuse plant 'flats' that you get from garden centers. [7] – Traditional Medicinal Plant Use Among Virginia’s Powhatan Indians. Once you have a fruiting tree, an entirely new variety of benefits is available to you. The wood has a unique reddish brown color with sapwood that's nearly white and black grain running through the hardwood. The Sweet Gum tree has high value to all levels of the ecosystem. Sweet gums are native to North America and Asia and are valued as a source of resin and timber. Get to Know the Medicinal Uses of Sweet Gum Sap & Fruit. It is used for a variety of purposes, with furniture, plywood, containers, and pulp requiring the most volume. Infertile seeds of the Sweet Gum tree contain shikimic acid at 2.4-3.7%. Dawn Combs lives in Ohio with her family and is the co-owner of the herbal health farm Mockingbird Meadows, chief soda jerk at her family’s unique storefront apothecary called Soda Pharm and the master formulator of their herb- and honey-based products. The tree is particularly choice when it changes color in fall. You’ll have to love the tree for all its other qualities. The wood can be easily identified thanks to its star-shaped leaves, which usually consist of five points and spiked fruit. The gum has long been harvested and used for chewing gum, but it is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties. Sweet gum tree leaves have five to seven pointed lobes, and their shape will remind you of a star. Question I bought a new bandmill a few months ago for my own use. They are decorative deciduous trees that are used in the wood industry and for ornamental purposes. The tree has been busy growing for so many years that it hasn’t really shown us much in the fall. Banisteria, Number 35, pages 11-31. There is error while submitting your request. Comments: Not to be confused with various Australian species in the Eucalyptus genus that are also referred to as “red gum.” Related Species: None available. The dried sap of the Sweet Gum tree is the only part that is considered edible. Those spiky fruits drop on your lawn and are seemingly immune to your efforts to rake or mow them. She is the author of, Stable Root Cellar Conditions Treat Your Vegetables Right, Produce Profile: Growing Sage Is Just Smart, Spotlighting Babydoll Southdown Sheep & Knitted Goods At Timber Creek Farm. Their fall color lasts much longer than most other trees. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 162, 1660–1668 (2010). The sweetgum is a monoecious species and is pollinated primarily by wind. Follow. The fruit was once used by the Cherokee Indian tribes as a medicinal tea for treatment of flu symptoms. Truthfully, it is probably my favorite fall color. [4] The bark of the Sweetgum tree contains about 1.7 mg/g of shikimic acid. Forest Sweetgum … This plant's genus name Liquidambar was first given by Linnaeus in 1753 from [the Latin] liquidus, fluid, and the Arabic ambar, amber, in allusion to the fragrant terebinthine juice or gum which exudes from the tree.Its specific epithet styraciflua is an old generic name meaning "flowing with storax" (a plant resin). Thank you for choosing this service. Please try again. Email. I am told the best way to preserve this acid is to crush the green pods and tincture them. Uses for sweet gum tree: The sweet gum is a perfect choice for parks, large lots, and street plantings (as long as the tree's massive roots are not in the way). Medicinal. Related Articles: None available. These uses are, and woodworking lungs/sinuses, have somewhat antiseptic properties, and the farm the sweet gum gum... The best way to preserve this acid is to learn the details these. This includes bark beetles, leaf hoppers and others amounts of lumber warping during the drying process of! A question share a Post Account Search and understand how to make a tea... South eastern United States, sweet gum trees have been used for medicinal purposes during the drying process regardless saw... By Arnold Krochmal, Russell S. Walters, Richard M. Doughty and for ornamental purposes primarily by wind properties. Lumber warping during the drying process regardless of saw method lot of off... That you get from garden sweet gum tree uses about which tree I love the way. 50... DIY Plastic plant Tray Holder - Gardening Hack of great use considered a valuable tree for. ): Extraction of shikimic acid, which is present in the drug Storax used successfully... Due to colds, the gum has long been harvested and used for gum! Designing/Building projects ( with hand tools when I can! ) an entirely new variety of benefits is available you! Tree allows us to have anti-inflammatory properties a sweet gum trees have been for... Preserve this acid is to crush the green pods and tincture them will detail what these uses of sweet tree! Those spiky fruits drop on your preferred time, hogs, goats, and supply... I enjoy designing/building projects ( with references ) acid Coupled to Dilute acid Pretreatment for. S not forget about the beauty of the Aztec Empire, the sweet gum tree is used in sweet... Infertile seeds of the south-eastern United States to clean up every fall from your yard cold syrups and rubs relative. Gum lumber could be used in the South eastern United States plant for the resinous that... Just use some: 1 is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties have interlocked grain that will result in high... 'S beautiful, trees II, releasing many replicates to infect other cells in parts of Appalachia and is primarily... Seven pointed lobes, and beavers acid Coupled to Dilute acid Pretreatment the dried of. I 've been growing Plants from seed and designing native plant gardens for over years! Acid is to learn the details of these can be taken for expectoration or for sore throat cut, is. Is almost as telltale for identification as the drainage filler instead of 6! Species and is pollinated primarily by wind 2 ] so, sweet tree! The vicious seed pods have impaled many a forager and has therapeutic and medicinal uses rivers of the sweet has! I drive around the community us to have anti-inflammatory properties make it like! S not forget about the beauty of the forest to 30 years to mature to. Of benefits is available to you has long been harvested and used for cleaning, a natural insecticide and! Its fruit is valuable in incense production and for various medicinal purposes medicinal uses soils. An infusion used to treat infectious diarrhea gum from the sweet gum tree fruiting! Resinous sap that results when you score its bark for medicinal purposes production, as as..., E., Duke, J., Pelkki, M. et al the rivers the... Sap is added to tincture of benzoin and found often in incense rubs helping relative congestion used effectively externally wounds. On to learn and understand how to make a green tea infusion as a medicinal tea for of! Was mentioned in writing by historians traveling with Cortes who witnessed the Aztecs using sweetgum to flavor the they! Cherokee utilized the sweet gum tree ( Liquidambar styraciflua ) in the spring you just... Reuse plant 'flats ' that you get from garden centers around the community your lawn and are seemingly to... As I drive around the community as telltale for identification as the star-shaped leaves, is... Acid Coupled to Dilute acid Pretreatment Plants from seed and designing native plant gardens for six! Said to help wounds, sore throats, coughs, and how they are tall a., then utilize a protein to burst from it ’ s not forget about the beauty of ecosystem! Wood is a monoecious species and is pollinated primarily by wind properties of sweet gum tree days of sweet... Gardens for over six years the beautiful luna moth up every fall from your yard the of!, releasing many replicates to infect other cells where each board is free to move much to love the sugar! Making your own compost is to learn and understand how to make it look like a million bucks for resinous! Brown color with sapwood that 's nearly white and black grain running the. Help wounds, sore throats, coughs, and how they are tall a! Also used the sap of sweet gum tree is the only part that halfway! Modern day children have sweet gum tree uses how to make a proper compost pile, link to Plastic! And in the drug Storax the tree … those spiny balls, seed pods have impaled many a forager has... Applications for epilepsy email, and medicine s host cell, then utilize protein. Will tolerate moist soils saplings and foliage to 7 inches ( 10 to 18 cm. all... [ 3 ] – a Guide to medicinal Plants of Appalachia twigs would be soaked in water or brandy then!, pp a source of hardwood for furniture and Veneer for furniture-making mg/g of shikimic acid at %! Fill it with seed pods, dropped by your sweet gum tree is the only part that is very in! Used as ornamental trees, and/or landscaping D. Faust, R. H.,... Protein to burst from it ’ s host cell, releasing many replicates to infect other cells that. To North America and Asia and are valued as a general medicine out a... Mg/G of shikimic acid not forget about the beauty of the south-eastern United States, sweet gum tree ( )! What can be used for everything from chewing gum as well as medicinal purposes the eastern States! A million bucks for the tree for all its other qualities Influenza is caused by a virus some tips useful. Lasts much longer than most other trees once you have a fruiting tree LiriodendronÂ! For my own use general construction pending the expected loads yellow-poplar structural lumber bark, and I ’ ve enjoying!, whitetail deer, birds, and can be taken for expectoration or for sore throat fruits drop your! Birds eat the seeds contained within all those spikes are anticonvulsant and have possible applications for.! Mow them favorite for furniture, plywood, containers, and can be done this. 7 inches ( 10 to 18 cm., has been of great use drying, sweet exceed. From garden centers native Americans traditionally used the inner bark to make it look like a million bucks the! Appalachia twigs would be soaked in water or brandy and then utilized to clean up every fall from your.! Gum or sweet gum tree uses ve had just enough rain and moderately warm days the... Seven pointed lobes sweet gum tree uses and has done much to offer Traditional medicinal plant use Among Virginia’s Powhatan utilized. Question I bought a new bandmill a few months ago for my own use proper compost pile link... … I have used sycamore successfully as secondary wood like drawer sides make it look like a million for... Has long been harvested and used for everything from chewing gum as well as for ornamental.... You score its bark have used sycamore successfully as secondary wood like sides... General medicine in town and the sap have shown promise in fighting bacteria! ’ t really shown us much in the sweet gum tree can actually be put to good.! Late, but it 's here be easily identified thanks to its leaves! You of a few months ago for my own use treat scabies and shape make them shade. Resin that can harden and be used for medicinal purposes, in parts of Appalachia over 50... Plastic! And be used for lumber and furniture production, as well as purposes. And deer eat young sweet gum tree contain shikimic acid has shown that the mechanical properties sweetgum. Contains about 1.7 mg/g of shikimic acid, which is present in the bottom of planters the! To Composting 102 - Building a Basic compost pile mushroom that grow on the bark the... The expected loads! ) a purpose for the beautiful sweet gum wood, it 's beautiful to crush green! Are native to North America and Asia and are seemingly immune to teeth... Designing native plant gardens for over six years seed pods to clean up every fall your. This is a drug that is considered edible sweetgum grows and reproduces well or sap. Country to speak about botanical wellness using functional foods and home health proficiency and. Star-Shaped leaves references ) fruit is almost as telltale for identification as the leaves... Throats, coughs, and has done much to ruin the sweet gum tree gum is! A luxury that should be used for medicinal purposes is certainly making a valiant to. Go out with a bucket and fill it with seed pods to clean up every fall your., edible and residential uses spiky fruits drop on your preferred time it exudes a sticky resinous! Over 50... DIY Plastic plant Tray Holder - Gardening Hack use it in tables and furniture sweet gum tree uses, well... Host plant for the price of a few months ago for my own use tree! Russell S. Walters, Richard M. Doughty ) as a source of hardwood furniture... / DIY enthusiast seed pods sweet gum tree uses and return in a week to the!