On Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:31:36 +0100, Emery Davis
wrote:

Hi Bob,

'Moonbeam' is 'Moonbeam,' even in France. The national collection is
held here by the Pepinieres Adeline, who's new web site has just gone
live at http://www.adeline-pepinieres.com. My 'Moonbeam' comes from
there, along with 'Stared,' and the quality is very good. Delivery is
by truck for larger plants but is quite reasonable; in any case they do
a detailed breakdown so you can decide before you order. (I do see they
were bought, no doubt as Madame's health was problematic. I don't know
to what extent M. Adeline is still involved in the operation.)

I grow several other Liquidambars as well (including L. acalycina) but
'Gumball' isn't one of them. As the name suggests, 'Gumball' doesn't
much resemble a Liquidambar at all, max height is 2 m. However 'Silver
King' might fit the bill, it's a lovely variegation that doesn't burn in
the Normandy sun, and has a max height of 8 m. Mine is growing only
slowly now and has reached perhaps 5-6 m in 15 years. It's a much
admired specimen tree, although the fall colours are not as spectacular
as 'Moonbeam,' which changes slowly over the entire tree, showing a
remarkable range of colours all at the same time.

Glancing through the Adeline catalog they list 'Festival', 'Moonbeam',
'Parasol','Pendula' and 'Rotundilobum' all as max 10 m. My
'Rotundilobum' purchased from another source died this spring, I intend
to replace it with a graft from Adeline.

HTH

Many thanks for so much detail, Emery.

I'm in the UK at the moment but when I get back to France will speak
to the chap who's going to plant this tree for me - in fact is was he
who suggested the liquidambar. He has his own pepinieriste so don't
yet know how broad his knowledge might be.

In the light of your post and Stewart's I'm favouring Moonbeam as this
looks as though it might offer both moderate size and not too slow
growth - apart from it's own display, the tree will be helping to mask
a building project that's just at the other side of my garden.

Thanks also for your link - I'll check prices with them also, although
I fear shipping will make this prohibitive.