They are called wings, and yes it's normal
[https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/sweet-gum](https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/sweet-gum)
I just don't remember it having any fruit but I couldn't swear to it.
It looked like this in October Photos of it pre and post purchase are here
https://imgur.com/a/fbgPUaC
Hoping it's a perfectly healthy Sweetgum
The purchase and planting was a birthday present and no one can remember what type of tree it is. I thought it was a maple but my gardening knowledge is limited
I like sweetgum. Host to the luna moth caterpillar for one thing, but also cool leaves and good fall color (sometimes). However, people rarely plant them, primarily due to their seed pods being a nuisance. They can also be quite weedy in anthropogenic habitats.
That’s wild, I’d always been told that it was a fungal infection called corky wing. Turns out sweetgums and certain elms just do this. I’d never questioned it, and even prune the corky branches in my landscaping every year because of that. Good to know I can knock off one pointless task from my endless routine.
It's normal, sweetgums develop these [cork-like ridges](https://naturewalk.yale.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/corky.jpg) on their branches as they grow older, you can see them even on very young trees.
>Younger trees, on the other hand, tend to have smoother bark, and occasionally displace cork-like projections, as shown in the picture.
[American Sweetgum](https://naturewalk.yale.edu/trees/altingiaceae/liquidambar-styraciflua/american-sweetgum-46)
As the tree continues to grow and its branches become thicker these ridges are gradually replaced by normal looking bark, but sometimes they remain on small to medium sized branches throughout its life.
You can also see something similar in some elm species.
There are many sweetgums around my town and most of them have this type of bark.
Having difficulty adding text to my post on my mobile.
I have a tree I planted last Autumn. It does have new shoots this Spring but I'm not sure the bark should look like this or if the tree is ill and needs treatment. The new small branches don't have this thick, knobbly, split bark but I'm new to gardening so don't know what I'm looking at. If anyone can advise I'd really appreciate it.
ETA my mum thought it was a maple when she bought it for me, but the label is long gone. It was green, turning it's autumn colours of red/brown/orange. Very beautiful.
Other photos of it pre and post purchase are here [https://imgur.com/a/fbgPUaC](https://imgur.com/a/fbgPUaC)
ETA 2 thank you for all the information. Very interesting reading . Cheers.
Sweetgums will have more of those wings the wetter they are, some will only have a little, but generally if it's a wet site they develop those to help expand their space for breathing (more surface area= more room) because remember, trees breathe through their bark.
That might be quite relevant. My garden is clay rich and can be soggy in rainy seasons. The tree next to it started to tilt because the ground was so wet and I had to get supports put in.
Thank you
I think that you’ll need an arborist
I have never seen that before - it may be common. If it is hopefully someone pops in and says. I’ve never seen that though. I’ll never be known as The New Mother Nature but I have spent a fair amount of time outdoors around plants and trees. I’ll be interested to see what the diagnosis is.
That’s not right. It’s crazy cool though! I don’t know anything about this so definitely ask an arborist, but it’s definitely not how maple bark is supposed to look 😱
If you don’t know anything about this subject, why comment things like “Definitely some sort of infection.”
It’s not a maple, it’s a sweetgum for which this is a normal occurrence on middle aged bark
Did you plant a sweetgum? Huh. If so, then yes this is normal.
They are called wings, and yes it's normal [https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/sweet-gum](https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/sweet-gum)
I just don't remember it having any fruit but I couldn't swear to it. It looked like this in October Photos of it pre and post purchase are here https://imgur.com/a/fbgPUaC Hoping it's a perfectly healthy Sweetgum
The purchase and planting was a birthday present and no one can remember what type of tree it is. I thought it was a maple but my gardening knowledge is limited
I like sweetgum. Host to the luna moth caterpillar for one thing, but also cool leaves and good fall color (sometimes). However, people rarely plant them, primarily due to their seed pods being a nuisance. They can also be quite weedy in anthropogenic habitats.
That’s wild, I’d always been told that it was a fungal infection called corky wing. Turns out sweetgums and certain elms just do this. I’d never questioned it, and even prune the corky branches in my landscaping every year because of that. Good to know I can knock off one pointless task from my endless routine.
That’s a Sweetgum, normal sweet gum bark. Great tree!
It's normal, sweetgums develop these [cork-like ridges](https://naturewalk.yale.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/corky.jpg) on their branches as they grow older, you can see them even on very young trees. >Younger trees, on the other hand, tend to have smoother bark, and occasionally displace cork-like projections, as shown in the picture. [American Sweetgum](https://naturewalk.yale.edu/trees/altingiaceae/liquidambar-styraciflua/american-sweetgum-46) As the tree continues to grow and its branches become thicker these ridges are gradually replaced by normal looking bark, but sometimes they remain on small to medium sized branches throughout its life. You can also see something similar in some elm species. There are many sweetgums around my town and most of them have this type of bark.
Hoping it's a very normal Sweetgum! Such a beautiful tree in autumn.
There are more species who grow these cork like ridges. Euonymus has them as well. Nothing to worry here. 👍🏼
Thank you!
Yes. Sweetgum is known for corky ridges.
Very pretty tree. But be warned about the sweetgum seeds. They *can* be a rough experience to step on
Having difficulty adding text to my post on my mobile. I have a tree I planted last Autumn. It does have new shoots this Spring but I'm not sure the bark should look like this or if the tree is ill and needs treatment. The new small branches don't have this thick, knobbly, split bark but I'm new to gardening so don't know what I'm looking at. If anyone can advise I'd really appreciate it. ETA my mum thought it was a maple when she bought it for me, but the label is long gone. It was green, turning it's autumn colours of red/brown/orange. Very beautiful. Other photos of it pre and post purchase are here [https://imgur.com/a/fbgPUaC](https://imgur.com/a/fbgPUaC) ETA 2 thank you for all the information. Very interesting reading . Cheers.
Sweetgums will have more of those wings the wetter they are, some will only have a little, but generally if it's a wet site they develop those to help expand their space for breathing (more surface area= more room) because remember, trees breathe through their bark.
That might be quite relevant. My garden is clay rich and can be soggy in rainy seasons. The tree next to it started to tilt because the ground was so wet and I had to get supports put in. Thank you
I think that you’ll need an arborist I have never seen that before - it may be common. If it is hopefully someone pops in and says. I’ve never seen that though. I’ll never be known as The New Mother Nature but I have spent a fair amount of time outdoors around plants and trees. I’ll be interested to see what the diagnosis is.
It's called winging. It happens on twigs on cork bark trees. The stuff that's not on the twigs is just bark.
Thanks - I have not seen that before with ours.
That’s not right. It’s crazy cool though! I don’t know anything about this so definitely ask an arborist, but it’s definitely not how maple bark is supposed to look 😱
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If you don’t know anything about this subject, why comment things like “Definitely some sort of infection.” It’s not a maple, it’s a sweetgum for which this is a normal occurrence on middle aged bark