We’d like to highlight the still relatively unknown Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Palo Alto’. The tree has a regular conical crown; when young, it grows in a narrow, upright manner. Later, the tree spreads out noticeably and forms a more pyramidal crown; the cultivar can eventually reach a height of 12 to 15 meters. The tree is hardier than the species, making it a good choice for achieving a certain degree of uniformity in a planting scheme. It is well-suited for use along streets, in residential neighborhoods, on green belts, or in parks.
This cultivar produces light green, ornamental, slightly glossy leaves. In the fall (October), the leaves change color very intensely from green to yellow, orange, and finally to deep red and purple hues. The tree blooms in April/May with inconspicuous yellow-green flowers. Over the course of the summer, round, spiny fruits with a diameter of 30 to 35 mm appear; these remain on the tree throughout the winter. Notable are the characteristic Liquidambar cork strips found on the twigs and branches. When young, the tree’s trunk is relatively smooth.
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Palo Alto’ is an American selection. This cultivar was selected in the late 1950s by the Saratoga Horticultural Institute, which was located in San Martin, California, at the time.
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