Platanus occidentalis
American Sycamore
Please register or login to build your personal plant list.American Sycamore is a very large, deciduous tree, achieving massive height and girth. It is monoecious; male and female flowers appear on...
Description:
American Sycamore is a very large, deciduous tree, achieving massive height and girth. It is monoecious; male and female flowers appear on separate trees. Fertilized female flowers give way to spherical, airy balls of seeds, which disintegrate as they are weathered. Sycamore features large, lobed, dark green leaves and irregularly exfoliating (peeling) bark, revealing an attractive pattern of jigsawed colors. Sycamore is tolerant of urban conditions and highly valued as a native tree. It is susceptible to anthracnose (a fungal plant disease), which causes temporary defoliation, but the leaves grow back quickly. Plant it as a specimen in your large yard, or as a street tree in your neighborhood.
Plant Details:
Other Common Names: American Planetree, Buttonwood
Plant Type: Tree
New Jersey Native: Yes
Bloom Times: Spring
Bloom Colors: Red, Yellow
Deer Resistance: High
Attracts Pollinators and Wildlife: Birds
Salt Tolerance: Low to None
Hardiness Zone: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Physiographic Region: All Regions in NJ
Soil Characteristics
Soil Type: Loam, Organic, Sandy
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Acidic, Slightly Acidic
Light Needs of Plant
Optimal Light: Full Sun
Light Range: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Water Needs of Plant
Soil Moisture: Dry
Drought Tolerance: Low
Size and Growth Rate
Height: 75 - 100 ft
Spread: 75 - 100 ft
Growth Rate: Fast