Plant Sweetgums in full sun and in any type of soil that is slightly acidic, rich in organic matter, and well drained. They often settle for less and do well in wet soil on floodplains. Site them away from foot traffic because their prickly balls may be a hazard. They develop sturdy, broad root systems, so must keep their distance from buildings, and sewer lines. Their sensitivity to pollution makes them a dubious choice for many city sites, but they can handle the compacted soil in the average suburban yard, especially where builders have striped away topsoil.

Be sure your tree is grown from seed that comes from the same planting zone as you have to be sure it will thrive in your environment. If you live in the North you don’t want a Sweetgum propagated in the South, and vise versa. Sweetgums are hard to transplant so pick the right spot the first time.