In much of the country, in the fall of the year, nature paints the foliage of many of her trees glorious shades of orange, gold, scarlet, maroon and bronze. In California, few trees color well in autumn due to the mild climate.

However, one outstanding exception is state liquidambar, a beautiful ornamental tree, popularly known as "sweet gum." Through fall and winter, the maple-like lustrous dark green leaves of liquidambar assume gorgeous autumnal tints of orange, crimson, gold and many deeper tones, later becoming almost purple before falling.

For a brief period in late winter, the tree is leafless. Liquidambar styraciflua is a tree of great distinction. It makes slender cone-shaped symmetrical pyramids, well filled with foliage, not widespreading, and may be planted to advantage in many different locations.

It makes an-ideal tree for a parkway, is a fine shade tree for a small garden, can be used as a lawn specimen and is an excellent tree for the back of the shrub border. The tree eventually reaches 100 feet in height but is very slow-growing. Soil requirements are deep rich soil, with plenty of leaf mold, peat moss and well-rotted cow manure mixed with the topsoil.

The tree thrives anywhere from beach to desert if given plenty of moisture, and is free of all pests and disease. In the early part of the year, inconspicuous flowers appear and leave many hanging burr-like balls of winged seed. The tree should be pruned well before planting. To intensify the fall and winter colorings, withhold all water in late summer.

The unusual name, liquidambar, comes from the Latin, liquidus, meaning fluid, and the Arabic, ambar, referring to the fragrant juice that exudes from the tree. The resin of the tree is used in making chewing gum.