The aromatic, shiny leaves of the sweetgum tree have 5 (or sometimes 7) pointed lobes and look similar to maple leaves. They can be distinguished from maple leaves by the backward-pointing first and fifth lobe veins, and by the fact that the leaves are alternate on the stem while maple leaves are paired. The bark is gray, with corky wings on some of the twigs.

The tree flowers in late March with separate male and female flowers. The male flowers (groups of stamens) are in several clusters along a stalk that drops off the tree once the pollen is shed. The female flowers droop in a single ball-like cluster at the end of a long stem. The developing fruit retains the same structure and may remain on the tree in winter. Fruits are eaten by many birds as well as some mammals such as squirrels and chipmunks.

Sweetgums are mostly found in the southeast, very often in moist places, although they are frequently a pioneer species in freshly cleared areas.

Sweetgum has a hard wood which is frequently used for furniture and other timber uses. Its name comes from the sweet, aromatic resin under the bark which has been used as chewing gum and for medicinal purposes since it acts as an antiseptic, an expectorant, and has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.