Firehouse® Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘JFS KW1LS’
Discovered and observed for 25+ years by Keith Warren and introduced by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
Dark green, lobed leaves stay fresh through the summer months before turning bright red in autumn. Pyramidal in form, remarkably dominant central leader, strong branch attachment and upright angles add up to a storm-resistant structure. Relatively early defoliation in autumn also contributes to its storm resilience. (Its parent trees grow in a residential landscape near the Columbia River Gorge where winter ice storms and high winds are annual events. This sturdy tree has sustained no structural damage while others growing nearby have suffered.) Unlike most sweetgums, the annual seed production of the parent tree has been extremely sparse to none. Matures to 25 feet wide by 50 feet tall. Hardy to zones 6–9.
Available in B&B and containers (sizes to be announced) from J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. (Booth #19026).
