Sweetgum

Sweetgum, the tree of American suburbs

Liquidambar, the sweetgum, is a large ornamental broadleaf tree with a strikingly regular, almost pyramidal crown. In North America it is one of the typical trees of residential districts and parking lots, where it is planted for shade and for the fall color of its leaves. On a diorama it therefore places a scene in the suburbs at once, with no need to explain anything further.

The model is finished and planted, measures 10.1 cm, and there is one piece in the package. The regular outline of the crown is characteristic of this species and sets it apart from the spreading oaks and maples in the same line.

Where to put it

It looks best at a street curb, on the corner of a garden, or at regular intervals along a sidewalk, because that is exactly how it is really planted. A specimen standing alone in the middle of open ground is rather the exception with this species.

A group of trees looks more natural than a single piece, so it pays to combine several models of differing height and with a different shade of foliage.

Package

One finished tree is supplied. Terrain, turf and glue are not in the package; the model is planted into a prepared surface.

When planting it, heaping turf or a tuft of grass around the foot of the trunk helps. Without that the boundary between tree and board is visible at first glance and the scene gives itself away needlessly.

Within the range of finished trees the individual species differ in height and in the shape of the crown, so it pays to build a group from several species. An avenue of a single species is true to life on a city boulevard, but in open country it looks artificial.