Those Pesky Sweet Gum Balls!

I was starting to wonder if there are any good things about these trees. To my surprise, there are a few!

• The tree overall is very beautiful. It produces glossy green leaves in the spring and summer and turns vivid red, yellow and even purple in the fall!
• You can eat the dried sap from the trees. I was told it taste like bitter chewing gum. Yum!
• The tree produces Shikimic Acid, which can help treat the flu.
• Provide cover and shade for birds and mammals.
• Some Hummingbirds get the nectar from the sweet gum flowers.