Sweet gum grows best in moist, rich soil but also tolerates dry,
sandy soils. Trees are well suited for park, streets, highway and
informal plantings. Sweet gum is relatively free of insect and disease
problems. Leaves appear early in spring and remain attached until
late in fall. This tree is not too widely used since wood is brittle and
sharp pointed burs drop in the fall.

 Liriodendron tulipifera Magnoliaceae. Tulip-Tree, Yellow Poplar
or Tulip Poplar. Central and Northern area. Deciduous. Native.
 Tulip-tree may reach a height of 100 feet in Florida at maturity,
with a broad spreading crown and straight trunk devoid of branches
to great heights. Young trees are pyramidal. Leaves are alternate,
6- to 8-lobed, 3 to 7 inches wide and about the same length (Fig. 40).
Flowers are 2 inches long, tulip-like with greenish-white petals orange
colored at the base. Tulip-trees occur naturally along streams as far
south as Orange County and, although they do best on moist soils,
can thrive on drier lands.
 Tulip-tree is excellent as a fast-growing shade tree and should
also be used in naturalistic, park, woodland and lakeside plantings.

Fig. 40.-Tulip tree (left) and flower and foliage of the tulip-tree, Liriodendron
 tulipifera.