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

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • 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

Sun

Full

 

Water

Medium, Extra in Summer

 

Growth Rate

Fast

 

Soil Type

Clay, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

Messy

Design Styles

Formal

 

Accenting Features

Specimen

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter, Summer

 

Location Uses

Background, Lawn, Park

 

Special Uses

Shade Tree

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

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).
This large tree needs full sun and loamy, deep, well drained soil. It is best suited to parks or large areas. Requires regular, deep watering to flourish. Its leaves are slow to decompose.