Forest Service Office

Tell City, Indiana

These two sweetgums (Liquidambar styraciflua) are growing at the U.S. Forest Service Ranger District Office in Tell City, Indiana. They were planted sometime in 1976. The picture in the center shows the trees in April, 2003 - they're very small, only about 20 feet high or so, because they are growing right underneath a pair of larger trees and because this is close to the northern extent of the sweetgum range in the midwest. The picture on the left shows the trees in 2019, and on the right in April, 2022, having grown significantly over the intervening 19 years. They are now reported to be close to the end of life for this species, although they still give the outward appearance of being healthy sweetgums.

The original sweetgum seeds that were taken to the Moon were collected in Bladen County, North Carolina.

The trees are at 37 deg 56.652 min N, 86 deg 45.622 min W.

Image at left courtesy of Beth Gordon and Kuiper.
Image at center credit Dave Williams.
Images at right and bottom credit Luke Davidson.
Special thanks to Christine McCready and Tom Thake.

History of the Sweetgum Moon Trees

Moon Tree Home Page

NASA Official: Dave Williams, david.r.williams@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 19 July 2023, DRW