Foliage
Bark
Bud
Fruit
Form
Video
Taxonomy
| Family | Platanaceae |
|---|---|
| Genus | Platanus |
| Species | occidentalis |
| Common Name | American sycamore |
| iTree Code | PLOC |
Plant Form
| Form | Tree: tall, large crown |
|---|---|
| Height | 100 feet |
| Spread | 60 feet |
| Deciduous | Yes |
Identification Description
| Foliage | lobed (like maple), dark/shiny green, coarse toothed edge, 4-8” wide | Leaf Type
 |
Simple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needles | 0 | ||
| Bark | mottled brown/white/green, flaking/patchy & creamy/white smooth underneath | ||
| Bud | false terminal bud, single bud-cap, lateral buds hidden under leaf-stem | Bud Arrangement
|
Alternate |
| Twig | slender, red-brown | ||
| Flower | both male and female on single tree; male- yellow, female-red | ||
| Fruit | round “ball” (achene) of many tightly packed seeds, persists in winter | ||
| Fall Color | brown | ||
Site Characteristics
| USDA Zones
|
pH Levels | Salt Tolerance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | 4a | Min | 4.9 | Soil | Intolerant |
| Max | 9b | Max | 6.5 | Spray | Intolerant |
| Shade Tolerance | Drought Tolerance | Allelopathy |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediate | Moderate | No |
Species Status
| Nebraska Native |
|
|---|---|
| U.S. Native |
|
| Region of Origin | United States, Mexico |