American, Sycamore Seed
American Sycamore Seed
- Peeling patchwork bark reveals creamy white limbs that glow all winter
- Fast-growing native giant reaches 75 to 100 feet and casts generous summer shade
- Loves moist ground along streams and helps hold eroding banks in place
- Broad maple-like leaves crown a stately, long-lived landmark tree
Key Attributes
About American, Sycamore Seed
Patchwork bark that peels away to reveal creamy white limbs makes this massive, fast-growing native shade tree instantly recognizable. American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) has broad, maple-like leaves and round, dangling seed balls that hang on through winter. It loves moist ground along streams and rivers, where it helps hold banks in place, yet adapts to many landscape sites. Give it room and it becomes a stately, long-lived landmark.
Growing details
Plant profile
Seed & variety
Before Planting
Planting
Watering
Fertilizer
Harvesting
Tips
Pests & Diseases
Anthracnose causes leaf browning and drop in cool, wet springs, but trees usually re-leaf. Bacterial leaf scorch can occur in the Southeast.
Sycamore lace bug can cause leaf stippling in summer. Damage is mostly cosmetic on established trees.
Native States & Regions
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Native regions: Widespread Native
Its Role in the Native Ecosystem
American Sycamore's seed balls feed goldfinches, purple finches, chickadees and juncos through winter. Older trees develop hollows used by wood ducks, owls, chimney swifts and raccoons. Its leaves host a number of native moth caterpillars, and its roots stabilize streambanks that protect aquatic habitat.
American Sycamore Native Range Map
Native range describes natural occurrence, not the origin of this seed lot or every location where a plant can be grown.
Alaska and Hawaii are shown as insets. State-level range does not mean a plant occurs throughout every part of that state.
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