Liquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon' Tree

One of our most popular Sweet Gum trees, Liquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon' has fantastic star-shaped foliage that is more deeply lobed than some other varieties. The glossy green foliage will delight with a display of autumn colour that begins with yellow and orange, developing to vibrant claret red. Corky, fissured bark creates yet more interest and is ideal for children to create bark rubbings.

This pyramidal tree will grow to 10 x 6 metres in 20 years when given a moist or damp soil in full sun where possible. 'Worplesdon' is one of the very best ornamental trees for autumn colour in our opinion and has received the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

AKA Sweet Gum Worplesdon, Red Gum Worplesdon, Liquidambar Worplesdon

• Common name: Sweet Gum tree
• Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
• Height and spread in 20 years: 10 x 6 metres
• Season of interest: Spring, Summer, Autumn
• Foliage: Green star-shaped leaves turn vibrant orange and red in autumn
• Soil: Prefers well-drained yet moist sites and suited to most soil types

Planting Advice for Liquidambar styraciflua Worplesdon Trees

Our pot grown Worplesdon Sweet Gum trees can be planted at any time of the year. Begin by removing weeds and grass within a metre of your desired planting hole, then dig a square hole as deep as your root mass and approximately 2x as wide. We advise sprinkling root grow in the hole to help it establish.

Gently loosen the roots and place into the planting hole. Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% high quality compost, fill in the hole and firm around gently. Avoid banking the soil up around the collar of the tree as this can cause problems. Use a stake and tie to help anchor the roots - instructions are in the full planting guide.

Aftercare Advice for Liquidambar styraciflua Worplesdon Trees

If you’re planting Worplesdon Sweet Gum in spring or summer, water well and regularly for the first few months. Keep an eye on it and increase watering if there are extended periods of hot or dry weather. If you’re planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little. Consider using an irrigation kit to make it easier.

Once planted, keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first few growing seasons - mulch matting will aid this. Do not simply mow the grass around the area as this will only encourage it to grow more vigorously. If your area is prone to rabbits, use a rabbit guard to protect the trunk.

Tip: if you are mowing grass near a Sweet Gum tree, it is best to remove any seedballs first as they can cause a problem for lawnmower blades.

Pruning Advice for Liquidambar styraciflua Worplesdon Trees

Worplesdon Sweet Gum trees do not require regular pruning, but you can trim them if they look a little untidy. The ideal structure is for one central leader, so if you see any competing branches, remove the weakest along with any suckers. The best time of year to prune a Sweet Gum tree is January or February.

Delivery Costs

*Free delivery promotion excludes mature trees, extra large kits and delivery to Highlands or Islands. Discount applies at checkout.

Delivery Times

Next Day Despatch
We will always try to get your plants to you as quickly as possible.  For many of our trees and plants, if you order today we will despatch your order within 24 hours.  We are constantly adding to our range of next day plants, and we do not add a surcharge for this service. Click here to see our next day delivery plants.

Standard Delivery
We have one of the widest range of trees in the UK, and for those plants which we cannot despatch next day we will normally despatch within 4 weeks. The despatch time for different products will be confirmed when products are added to your shopping basket

Pre-orders
We will only want to deliver your orders when they are perfect for planting! Depending on the season and how well the plants are growing, we will give our best estimates of the despatch dates for pre-orders.  These dates may vary and by species and while we will always try to deliver within these timeframes if the expected despatch does change then we will notify you by email.

Special Orders
Orders containing pleached or mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) are delivered within 3 weeks. They require specialist delivery and are grouped geographically. Any customers ordering pleached or mature trees will be contacted and notified of their delivery date.

If your trees are required by a specific date, please let us know as soon as possible; while we can’t offer any guarantees we will always do our best to accommodate you. You can leave instructions in the notes field on the Delivery Page of the Checkout or send us an email at [email protected].

Please note that orders are shipped once all the trees in the order are ready.

Collections
Collections are by appointment only at our West Yorkshire-based nursery. If you would like to place an order for collection, please get in touch before placing your order. You will not be charged a delivery cost for a collection and any delivery cost that has been applied will be refunded.

The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. *Pot sizes may vary. Below are definitions of terms:

Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.

Single Stem tree: Classic tree with one trunk, pruned for a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted tree: A height next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Ideal for small spaces.

Feathered tree: Branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.

Multi Stem tree: Two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.

Clump: Several plants in one pot that give the appearance of a bushy multi stem tree.

Climber: Naturally climbing plant. Usually delivered running up a cane, ready to position in the garden.

Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height.