Platanus racemosa (California Sycamore)

Fast-growing, Platanus racemosa (California Sycamore) is a large deciduous tree adorned with a massive, barrel-shaped trunk and an open, irregular crown of thick, spreading, gracefully twisted branches. Typically adorned with a stout single trunk, California Sycamore often forks into multiple or leaning trunks. The foliage of large, palmate, light green leaves turns shades of golden, yellow, or orange in the fall. Small, inconspicuous flowers appear in rounded clusters in spring. The female flowers are followed by small, fuzzy, hanging balls in summer and fall. One of the most striking features of California Sycamore is the mottled bark, which flakes off in patches, creating an attractive patchwork of white, tawny beige, pinkish gray, and pale brown. A majestic and noble tree that tolerates extreme heat and wind. Long-lived (over 150 years), Platanus racemosa is both a picturesque shade tree and an ornamental tree.

• Grows up to 30-80 ft. tall (9-24 m) and 20-50 ft. wide (6-15 m). Adds 36 in. per year (90 cm).
• This plant is easily grown in full sun to part shade in dry to medium, well-drained soils. Best in moist soils that do not dry out. Moderately salt and drought tolerant once established.
• Resistant to verticillium. Keep an eye out for shot hole borer, leaf miner, scales, spider mites, anthracnose, armillaria, phytophthora, mistletoe, apignomonia venata, and root rot.
• California Sycamore has an aggressive root system. Make sure you have at least 12 ft. (360 cm) between the sidewalk and curb when planting as a street tree.
• Propagate by stratified seeds.
• Native to California, Mexico.