American Sycamore

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Platanus occidentalis

FAMILY:Platanacea

This tree in Colorado: American sycamore is a large, attractive tree that is not very common in most Colorado communities. It is common in southeastern and far western Colorado. The bark becomes a mottled brown and tan which is its main attractiveness. London planetree (Platanus x acerifolia) is a cross between American and oriental sycamore that grows well in Colorado. It has the same characteristics as American sycamore. Its fruit has two rounded achenes.

Hardiness: Zones 4 to 7. Mostly common to the eastern part of United States. It is not native to Colorado.

Growth rate: Medium to fast growth rate in areas with irrigation.

Growth habit: As a young tree, it forms a single main stem. As it ages, the crown becomes large and wide spreading. The truck gets very large. Often pyramidal shape.

Foliage: Alternate; simple; 3”-8” wide; deciduous; deeply lobed; leaf looks very much like a maple leaf; bright green and glabrous above; paler and hairy below. Remember, maple leaves are oppositely aligned on the twig where sycamore is alternately aligned.

Fruit: Single, round headed ball or achene. Mostly one per stalk, as compared to London planetree that normally has two per stalk.

Bark: Brown on younger branches; soon becomes mottled (brown and creamy white) as the brown bark peels off; showing the creamy-white smooth inner bark; very distinctive bark.

Twigs: Twigs are moderately slender; orange-brown; zigzag.

Insects and diseases: Antracnose is the main disease that affects the leaves. It causes leaves to drop early. Leaves appear to be scorched in an irregular fashion.

Landscape value: This tree can be very large. It is not recommended as a street tree unless the tree lawn is wider than 6 feet. It is best to plant sycamores in areas where there is considerable room. The fruit, twigs and leaves can be messy. The tree's bark is unique and adds a nice change to the more common trees found growing in our area. The hybrid, London planetree, is more commonly planted as a street or park tree.

Information sources: Michael Dirr, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (University of Georgia, 1990)Michael Kuhns, Trees of Utah and the Intermountain West (Utah State University Press, 1998)

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