Liquidambar styraciflua - 12 litre

(Full plant info in our Plant Finder)

This is a large and beautiful tree with a pyramidal habit and pleasantly and slightly aromatic foliage not unlike that ofa maple. The leaves are lobed with widespread, tapering fingers, shining-green and smooth. It is this quality that differentiates them from maples and gives them that different feel. The leaves are held alternately on the stems, rather than paired as with acers. They take on brilliant autumn colours of crimson, orange and claret. The colour is long-lasting and stays around for over a month on the tree itself, leading to a further spell of colour at ground level once they have fallen. The bark is cork-like in texture and grey-green in colour. The tree can exceed 18m (60ft) height over time.