How Did I Get the Name “Liquidambar Girl”?

My name isn’t Amber, if that’s what you were thinking.

I am asked this question fairly frequently across all of my social media platforms. In my comment sections on YouTube I am called Amber all the time. (My name is Bridget, by the way.)

Actually, the name “Liquidambar” belongs to my favorite tree, the Sweet Gum. It’s Latin name is Liquidambar styraciflua.

I found this name while memorizing the Ohio plants and trees for my Master Gardener certification. In the middle of studying what felt like thousands of common names and scientific names, I was reintroduced to a tree that I had been fascinated with as a child. Again, I’m referring to the Sweet Gum.

You see, our city park is filled with Sweet Gum trees. They are easily recognizable with their star-shaped leaves and those crazy spiky balls (notice that I have a purple spiky ball as the icon for this webpage). Many don’t like Sweet Gum trees because of their spiky fruit, but that’s one of my favorite parts of the tree. As a child, they were fun to collect with friends. My childhood bestie, Faith, and I used them as currency in our imaginary play. And I think I may recall a game or two of tag that involved the throwing of spiky balls. (Don’t tell my mom.)

As an adult, the charms of the Sweet Gum abide. If you haven’t seen one colored up for the Fall, well, you are missing out my friend. These trees can display every color of the rainbow on the same tree. At the same time. Each year their colors can vary so you never know what colors you will see, but it is a guaranteed feast for the eyes.

So there it is, my business is named for the Sweet Gum tree. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Make sure to comment below if you would be interested in a blog with in depth information and care for the Sweet Gum tree as a landscape plant. Also, make sure to follow this blog if you enjoyed this content. Thanks for reading!

Mercy, peace and love be multiplied to you.