Platanus occidentalis L.

American sycamore, sycamore

About plant names...

American sycamore is native to the eastern North America.

Identification: Trees reach 98-131' (30-40 m) and up to 6½' (2 m) in diameter. Bark is mottled, with large irregular chunks like puzzle pieces that flake off, revealing differently colored bark beneath. Bark colors include tan, light gray, white, cream, and olive green. The unusual appearance of the bark is a prominent identifying feature. Leaves are 4-9" (10-22 cm) in size, somewhat resembling maple leaves, with 3-5 lobes. Male (staminate) flowers are dark red, while female (pistillate) flowers are light green tinged with red. Both are ball-shaped, becoming brown balls of fruit about 1" (2.5 cm) around, hanging on stems up to 3" (7.6 cm) long, usually remaining through the winter. The balls are bumpy; each bump is a seed and parachute.

2/24/2010 · Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, Cali­fornia
≈ 4½ × 4" (11 × 10 cm)

4/6/2012 · North Central Railroad Trail, Sparks, Mary­land
≈ 6 × 5" (16 × 12 cm)

These "sycamores" are not related.

	Acer pseudoplatanus	You are here Platanus occidentalis
Common Name	sycamore maple	American sycamore
Plant	66-115' (20-35 m) high, with a broad crown, oval to rounded in shape.	98-131' (30-40 m) high, up to 6½' (2 m) in diameter.
Flowers	Yellowish green, in May.	Male flowers are dark red, while female flowers are light green tinged with red. Both are ball-shaped.
Leaves	Five-lobed, with serrated edges, 4-10" (10-25 cm) in size.	4-9" (10-22 cm) in size, somewhat resembling maple leaves, with 3-5 lobes.
Stem	Depending on age, may be smooth and gray or covered with large peeling scales that reveal several colors of inner bark.	Bark is mottled, with large irregular chunks like puzzle pieces that flake off, revealing differently colored bark beneath. Bark colors include tan, light gray, white, cream, and olive green.
Seeds	Samaras are 1¼-2" (3.2-5 cm).
Fruit		Bumpy brown balls about 1" (2.5 cm) around, on stems up to 3" (7.6 cm) long. Bumps separate into airborne seeds after drying.
Range/ Zones
Type	Wild	Wild

Online References:

The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Wikipedia

The USDA Plants Database

The University of Connecticut Plant Database

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The USDA Forest Service's Silvics of North America site

The Ohio State University PLANTFacts database

EFloras

References:

Sibley, David Allen, The Sibley Guide to Trees, Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, p. 102

9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 20 × 16" (50 × 41 cm)

6/10/2018
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

8/31/2013 · Riverside Park, James River, Midlothian, Virginia
≈ 1¾ × 1¾" (4.6 × 4.5 cm)

7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River

4/8/2012 · North Central Railroad Trail, Monkton Rd, Sparks, Mary­land
≈ 12 × 17" (29 × 44 cm)

6/13/2011 · Great Falls State Park, Washington, DC
≈ 24 × 16" (62 × 41 cm)

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 16 × 24" (41 × 62 cm) ID is uncertain

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 14 × 21" (34 × 52 cm) ID is uncertain

3/17/2012 · North Central Railroad Trail, End, Phoenix, Mary­land

3/19/2012 · Gunpowder Falls State Park, Cockeysville, Mary­land
≈ 16 × 24" (41 × 62 cm)

6/30/2023 · Harpers Ferry, West Vir­ginia

7/29/2023 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River

6/13/2011 · Great Falls State Park, Washington, DC
≈ 3 × 2½' (97 × 73 cm)

11/30/2014 · James River, Midlothian, Virginia
≈ 4 × 6' (1.2 × 1.8 m)

Platanus occidentalis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 11 Jul 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

Ball-shaped fruit splits into parachute-borne seeds · 4/8/2012 · North Central Railroad Trail, Monkton Rd, Sparks, Mary­land
≈ 5 × 4" (12 × 10 cm)

7/29/2023 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River

6/30/2023 · Harpers Ferry, West Vir­ginia

7/23/2017 · Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 19 × 14" (47 × 34 cm)

7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River

3/16/2010
≈ 5 × 6½' (1.6 × 2.0 m)

11/8/2015
≈ 28 × 19" (71 × 47 cm)

11/30/2014 · James River, Midlothian, Virginia
≈ 4½ × 7' (1.4 × 2.1 m)

2/24/2010 · Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, Cali­fornia
≈ 4 × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 19 × 14" (47 × 34 cm) ID is uncertain

7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River
≈ 11 × 9" (28 × 23 cm)

9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 2' (1.1 × 0.7 m)

7/23/2010 · Nashua River Boat Ramp on Rte 119, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 24 × 16" (62 × 41 cm) ID is uncertain

7/2/2010 · Mt Vernon Trail, along Potomac River
≈ 14 × 11" (36 × 27 cm)

3/2/2011

8/31/2013 · Riverside Park, James River, Midlothian, Virginia
≈ 3½ × 2½" (9.2 × 7.1 cm)

Range:

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