Leaves are star-shaped, about as broad as they are long, and are borne alternately on the twigs. When crushed, the leaves are mildly fragrant. In the autumn the leaves turn a golden yellow to Burgundy red. The star-shaped leaf makes this tree easy to identify. The bark is light grey, roughened by corky scales.
Older twigs have corky wing-like growths on their bark.
The wood from an old growth tree has a high proportion of reddish heartwood. Lumberman sometimes refer to it as redgum. Few American woods equal sweetgum in beauty of natural grain. On the the hardwood lumber markets, it is second only to the oaks for volume produced. It is used for veneer, furniture, doors, interior trim, pulpwood and many other uses.