At first glance, you might mistake a Sweetgum tree for a local Maple. They look incredibly similar! But if you’re ever unsure which tree you’re looking at, there’s one dead giveaway: the fruit.
Fruit Production: A Lesson in Patience
If you’re waiting to see those iconic Sweetgum “balls,” you’re going to need some serious patience. These trees don’t usually start producing fruit until they’re at least 20 years old. Depending on the specific variety, it can sometimes take even longer. Plus, the flowers themselves are pretty modest and often get lost under the thick canopy of leaves.
The blooms are spherical and range from reddish to green. Depending on the type of Sweetgum, the flowers (and the fruit clusters that follow) might grow individually or in candle-like spikes. Those spikes are much easier to spot against the foliage!
When Do the Fruits Ripen?
The fruit matures by autumn and usually hits the ground right around the same time the leaves start to fall. Now, a quick heads-up for my fellow green thumbs: trying to propagate a Sweetgum from seed isn’t exactly a walk in the park. If you’re looking to grow a new one, you’ll have much better luck using cuttings.
You’ll often see the fruit capsules clinging to the branches well into winter. This happens because the empty pods don’t drop off very quickly. While these pods do contain seeds, they often aren’t fertilized. On the bright side, those empty, woody seed balls make for fantastic natural home decor!
What Do the Fruits Look Like?
Technically speaking, the Sweetgum fruit is a “capsule fruit cluster.” No matter which variety you check out in a plant profile, they all share this trait: a round, woody ball that acts as a collection of seeds.
Appearance-wise, they look a bit like a Chestnut. The fruit capsule is round and prickly, but those “spikes” are actually just the hardened styles from the original female flowers. Inside, the seeds themselves are tiny—usually no more than 10 mm long—and feature a little wing on one side to help them catch the wind.
