Botanical name: Platanus occidentalis
Family: Platanaceae (planetree)
Click on images of American Sycamore to enlarge.
A.K.A. – Buttonwood, Plane-tree and Sycamore
- Native
- Deciduous
- Hardwood
- Fully mature it is capable of growing into a massive tree
- Capable of reaching heights over 100- 120′
- Trunk can be greater than 10′ in diameter
- Historically, some were measured at over 165′ in height and more than 13′ in diameter
- When fully grown the American sycamore has large branches that form a large open canopy
- It is a moderate to fast growing tree
- Bark lacks the elasticity to maintain it’s darker outer bark so often appears patchwork or white and smooth as it grows and the older bark falls away
- Flowers in the late spring
- Monoecious has different stalks growing off the twigs for both the male and female flowers
- Fruits are little round balls that grow in clusters, each hang off there own stalk and are often still attached well into the winter months
- Zig-zag twigs with lateral buds
- Leaves are similar to a maple leaf with 3-5 lobes 4-9″ long
- Prefers full to partial sun
- Zones 4-9
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- Sycamore, American ~ Bark
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- Sycamore, American ~ Branches
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- Sycamore, American
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- American sycamore
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- Sycamore, American ~ Leaf
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- Sycamore, American ~ Twig
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- Sycamore, American ~ Twigs
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- Sycamore, American ~ Bark
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- Sycamore, American ~ Mature Bark
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- Sycamore, American ~ Fruit