The sweetgum is a typical southern bottomland tree that occurs most abundantly on moist, rich, alluvial soils in association with many other species in valleys, swamps, and near ponds and streams. 

As a pioneer species, sweetgum is also common on abandoned fields and logged or clearcut areas, where it frequently forms dense thickets. It ranges from the southwestern part of Connecticut to central Florida, west to Texas and north to Southern Illinois.