It has a conical crown when young, becoming more rounded at maturity.
Petioles are almost as long as the leaf blade.
The spectacular fall coloring of yellow, red and purple is held late in the season. The twigs often develop corky ridges in their second year. The ovoid buds are reddish-brown, with 6 or more scales. Bark is grayish-brown and deeply furrowed with rounded, flaky ridges. The sweetgum is native to the eastern and southern US, extending to Mexico.