Sweet Gum Tree old_product_id_9828 Cold Hardy & Adaptable: Elderberries Green White Cold Hardy & Adaptable: Elderberries thrive in zones 3–9 and tolerate wet soils better than most fruiting plants blade shaped leaves that increase in size towards the bottom of them Sweet gum trees can be found in a variety of habitats‚ including wet lowlands and dry uplands‚ and are considered highly adaptable․ They thrive in well drained‚ moist‚ organic soils‚ but can tolerate both flooding and drought conditions․ The sweet gum tree is found in mixed hardwood forests (forests with a variety of tree and non tree species)․ Some mixed hardwood forest trees include oak‚ hickory‚ and sweet gum․ The tree's root system helps stabilize the soil and its canopy provides a habitat for many species of birds and insects․ The vital importance of the sweet gum tree in maintaining the balance of animal and plant life is at once illustrated by this interdependence․ known as liquidambar styraciflua is a flowering tree in the family Altingiaceae native to forests of the eastern United States and Central America․ They have very characteristic growth patterns and are‚ in addition to their highly decorative star like leaves‚ among the most picturesque of trees in the natural world․ The tree's stunning colors change from bright green in the spring to brilliant orange‚ yellow and red in the fall months‚ making them beautiful throughout the changing seasons․ Each of the seasons of its life cycle can be appreciated for the majesty and beauty within nature․ The more we understand about the tree‚ the more we realize it is not just a pretty addition to the landscape‚ but also a species that has both cultural and ecological importance‚ as well as commercial value․