Botanical Name: Platanus occidentalis
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Common Name: American Sycamore  
Plant photo of: Platanus occidentalis
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Water Saving Tip:

Apply a layer of mulch around plants to reduce moisture loss.

Choose organic mulches, such as shredded bark, compost or aged sawdust.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Tree

 

Height Range

60-100'

 

Flower Color

Red

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

Brown, Grey, Red, Tan, White

 

Fruit Color

Brown

 

Fruit Season

Fall, Persistent

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Connon Nursery, JJ Neilso
  • Description

  • Notes

American Sycamore is a stately, large shade tree reaching 70 to 90 feet tall and 40 to 60 feet wide. It starts out with a pyramidal habit, though the crown broadens as it matures. Large green leaves have 3 to 5 lobes, and turns yellow brown in fall. Red flowers appear in the spring but are not significant. The bark exfoliates and can be reddish brown or gray, and revels a creamy white inner bark. Fuzzy, rounded, tannish brown fruit appears singularly (distinguishing it from London Plane, which has fruits in pairs).