Alphabetical Plant Listing

Platanus occidentalis (American Sycamore)

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


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.

 

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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
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 70' – 100' (21m – 30m)
Spread 70' – 100' (21m – 30m)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance High
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow

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By Snezana Vasiljevic, Beck Polder Photography, Shutterstock

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.


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
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 70' – 100' (21m – 30m)
Spread 70' – 100' (21m – 30m)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance High
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles Prairie and Meadow

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