American Sweetgum Tree

  • The American Sweetgum is native to eastern North America.
  • It is recognisable by its five-pointed star-shaped leaves and its hard, spiked fruits. The fruit has been nicknamed “burr balls”, “gum balls”, “space bugs”, or “spike balls“. The balls contain seeds that are eaten by goldfinches and squirrels.
  • The tree’s gum resin was used both medicinally and to make chewing gum in America.
  • The timber was used to make plywood, furniture, flooring and wood pulp.