JeffS73
Chumono
Growing in a city near to me in the UK, planted by the local authority. I was inspired by the rough bark, but don't know which cultivar it is:
Can you help identify this Maple?
- Thread starter JeffS73
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Wulfskaar
Omono
It looks a lot like the Sweet Gum (liquidambar) tree in my back yard. Does it have any spiky balls? I couldn't see any in the pics.
JeffS73
Chumono
Ah, maybe the no1 schoolboy error asking for ID and assuming genus!
I didn't notice any spiky balls, I'll have to check if the leaves are alternate. Liquidamber looks right though, thank you!
I didn't notice any spiky balls, I'll have to check if the leaves are alternate. Liquidamber looks right though, thank you!
I was at a nursery about a month ago and found the perfect "maple". Turned out it was sweetgum. Now we can both identify the tree. Mistakes are how we learn. And until we have some finished trees, we are all a bunch of school boys!
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
Yep, Liquidambar styraciflua, or Sweetgum
JeffS73
Chumono
Do they bonsai well, do they bark up in a practical way? Perhaps as a larger (3ft) tree?
Wulfskaar
Omono
I've read that they are great for bonsai! The fall color really brightens up southern California with orange to red leaves.
I stratified seeds last fall and planted in spring. I now have 5 growing nicely!
To collect seeds, get some spike balls and wait for them to open up. Then I put them in a bag and banged them around a bit to get them to pop out.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
If you could take a photo of a branch with leaves laid out, it would help.
Maples have opposing leaves, sweet gums have alternating leaves. I believe this is a sweet gum, but I can't see a branch clearly enough to confirm it.
Maples have opposing leaves, sweet gums have alternating leaves. I believe this is a sweet gum, but I can't see a branch clearly enough to confirm it.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Yes, the fall color in SoCal is awesome, though some trees in SoCal are oriental sweetgum, Liquidambar orientalis, instead of American sweetgum,
However they are NOT great for bonsai. Or rather, they challenging for bonsai. The alternate growth structure of the branches and leaves makes it hard to develop tight ramification. Defoliation does not work in the same way that it does for Japanese maples. If you defoliate a sweetgum, it tends to shift resources to the growing tip and cause strong branch extension versus backbudding and lateral extension. And they will bleed like nuts if you prune them in the spring.
Challenging... but not impossible. However you don't see many good bonsai out there... and it isn't for a lack of trying.
0soyoung
Imperial Masterpiece
They don't people, though.
Wulfskaar
Omono
Weird. I read they were at least decent from other sites, other than some issues. I'm sure most trees have some issues that make them non-perfect for bonsai.
https://www.bonsaitreegardener.net/bonsai-trees/species/liquidambar
And lots of threads on bonsainut.com!
Also, I've seen some really cool ones online.
google image search
At any rate, I'll still be trying!
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Prove me wrong
I say that in a nice way... because I have about 1000 sweetgums growing on my property and I'd love someone to unlock their secrets. Until then, I will admire them from afar 
hinmo24t
Masterpiece
Love those sweetgum!
Wulfskaar
Omono
I'm not trying to prove anything; I'm a rookie over here!Prove me wrong
However, if @JeffS73 is attracted to that tree as much as I am, he'll at least have fun owning one, even with all it's flaws.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
I don't mean that in an offensive way. I mean it in a - I wish I could figure it out but I haven't yet - way. To me it is very difficult and not a good bonsai candidate. But perhaps it is me and not the tree
Wulfskaar
Omono
I understood what you were getting at and really appreciate it. As someone who has not used any bonsai techniques on sweet gums at all, whatsoever, I shouldn't be giving a lot of advice. I'm going for it though!I don't mean that in an offensive way. I mean it in a - I wish I could figure it out but I haven't yet - way. To me it is very difficult and not a good bonsai candidate. But perhaps it is me and not the tree
Wulfskaar
Omono
Here's an article from Zach Smith (@Zach Smith ???) stating it's good for beginners. 
Maybe that's the distinction.
https://bonsai-south.com/best-bonsai-trees-for-beginners-sweetgum/
Maybe that's the distinction.https://bonsai-south.com/best-bonsai-trees-for-beginners-sweetgum/
JeffS73
Chumono
Lots of interesting replies, I'll look out for any you post Wulfskaar, but I think from the advice I'll focus on rough bark maples instead. I haven't seen a really good one online, which also appears to confirm what bonsainut is saying. I've already got too many trees
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
PerhapsHere's an article from Zach Smith (@Zach Smith ???) stating it's good for beginners.
Make sure you pay attention to a couple of his comments like: removing terminal buds in late winter can result in death of the entire branch, and how he pinches new growth constantly throughout the growing season. Because it is alternate growth (and alternate buds) he doesn't say whether he pinches at one leaf or two. One leaf and the tree is too weak. Two leaves and the tree gets too leggy. I could go on, but you'll find out soon enough
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