Chinese liquidamber, Formosan sweetgum
Liquidambar formosana

Family: Altingiaceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It grows 18 m high and spreads 9 m wide. It can grow 40 m tall. The trunk is straight. The tree is broadly cone shaped. The bark is grey-white and becomes darker and cracked with age. The leaves usually have 3 lobes. The leaves are 13 cm long by 15 cm wide. The lobes taper to a point and have rounded teeth. The leaves are purple when young and become dark green before turning red to purple in autumn. The leaf stalks have a red tinge. The fruit are small and in clusters are 2.5-4 cm across.

There are 4 Liquidambar species. It is used in medicine. Also put in the family Hamamelidaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is native to China and Taiwan. It grows in woods and thickets in mountainous areas. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tasmania, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are used as a vegetable.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chao, Cha phai, Fengxiangshu, Fragrant maple tree, Pohon getah manis cina, Sau sau

Synonyms

Liquidamber acerifolia Maxim.; Liquidamber formosa var. monticola; Liquidiamber maximoviczii Miq.; Liquidiamber tonkinensis A. Chev.;