American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
Massive shade tree with white mottled bark; floodplain native. The sweet sap can be tapped in spring for syrup, much like maple.
- Family
- Platanaceae
- Type
- tree
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 75–100 ft
- Spacing
- 75–100 ft apart
- Light
- sun, part shade, shade
- Soil moisture
- moist, wet
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral
- Bloom
- March, April
- Bloom colors
- red, yellow, green, brown
- Wildlife value
- songbirds
- Caterpillar hosts
- ~45 butterfly & moth species
- Landscape uses
- specimen, rain garden
- Native states
- AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV