Create Your Garden

Platanus occidentalis (American Sycamore)

American Sycamore, Eastern Sycamore, American Plane Tree, Plane Tree, Buttonwood, Buttonball Tree

Platanus occidentalis, American Sycamore, Eastern Sycamore, American Plane Tree, Plane Tree, Buttonwood, Buttonball Tree, Deciduous Tree, Fall Color
Platanus occidentalis, American Sycamore, Eastern Sycamore, American Plane Tree, Plane Tree, Buttonwood, Buttonball Tree, Deciduous Tree, Fall Color
Platanus occidentalis, American Sycamore, Eastern Sycamore, American Plane Tree, Plane Tree, Buttonwood, Buttonball Tree, Deciduous Tree, Fall Color

Fast-growing, Platanus occidentalis (American Sycamore) is an enormous deciduous tree adorned with a massive trunk and a rounded crown of huge, crooked, horizontal branches. The foliage of large maple-shaped medium- to dark-green leaves, 4-10 in. wide (10-25 cm) turns yellow-brown in the fall. Small, inconspicuous flowers appear in rounded clusters in spring. The female flowers are followed by tiny, fuzzy, long-stalked, hanging balls that persist into early winter. One of the most striking features of the American Sycamore is the gray bark, which flakes off in patches to reveal the creamy white inner bark. A majestic and noble tree for plantings along streams, in groupings, or as a single specimen.

  • Grows up to 70-100 ft. tall and wide (21-30 m).
  • A full sun lover, this plant is easily grown in rich, humusy, fertile, consistently moist but well-drained soils. Dry soil can lead to a short life for this wet-site-tolerant tree. Tolerates wet and compacted soils.
  • Keep an eye out for canker, leaf spot, powdery mildew, borers, scale, Japanese beetles, caterpillars, and mites. This beautiful tree is subject to attacks of anthracnose in wet, cool springs, a disease that causes moderate to severe leaf drop.
  • Propagate by seed or cuttings. Seeds that overwinter on trees and are planted in spring will germinate promptly.
  • Native to North America.

 

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Platanaceae
Common names American Sycamore, Buttonwood, Plane Tree, Sycamore
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 70' - 100'
(21.3m - 30.5m)
Spread 70' - 100'
(21.3m - 30.5m)
Maintenance High
Water Needs Average, High
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Southeast, Southwest, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Tolerance Deer, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?

Recommended Companion Plants

Salix nigra (Black Willow)
Betula nigra (River Birch)
Acer rubrum (Red Maple)
Nyssa aquatica (Water Tupelo)
Populus deltoides (Eastern Cottonwood)
Carpinus caroliniana (American Hornbeam)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Trees
Plant Family Platanaceae
Common names American Sycamore, Buttonwood, Plane Tree, Sycamore
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 70' - 100'
(21.3m - 30.5m)
Spread 70' - 100'
(21.3m - 30.5m)
Maintenance High
Water Needs Average, High
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Southeast, Southwest, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Tolerance Deer, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow
How Many Plants
Do I Need?

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Platanus occidentalis (American Sycamore) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Platanus occidentalis (American Sycamore) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone