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The white branches reach into the winter sky, making a stark contrast to the dark gray trunks of the other forest residents. A streak of light among the dreary sameness. Like the painted ponies of the Native Americans, the Sycamore tree is an unexpected splash of excitement in the uniform monotones of the commonplace landscape.
Platanus occidentalis is the botanical name for the Eastern American Sycamore. It is the largest tree that grows east of the Mississippi River. Liriodendron tulipifera, the Tuliptree, may grow taller in some instances, but the Sycamore generally has a more massive trunk and will outweigh it in sheer mass. The large sheets of peeling bark give this tree an unmistakable appearance, and they stand out along the riverbanks and lowlands of Eastern North America.
Native Americans valued the Sycamore, and many tribes had a multitude of uses for it. Many medicines were made from the bark and leaves, and canoes were hollowed out from the long, straight trunks. The Cherokee believed that fire first came to Earth as lightning striking a Sycamore tree. From treatments for cuts and wounds, to infant rash, the Sycamore was used in many ways by the Native Americans. They even made a slightly sweet drink from its sap, although the Sugar Maple was more desirable for this purpose.
The European settlers also had many uses for the Sycamore tree. It grew quickly, and had a good, strong wood. From chopping blocks, wagon wheels, crates and boxes, to paper pulp, the Sycamore quickly became a multi-purpose tree. It was one of the first trees purposely planted for commercial harvest.
Another of the common names for Platanus occidentalis is Buttonwood. The name is self-explanatory, it was a favorite wood for making buttons. This tree participated in the historical event founding the New York Stock Exchange. A group of twenty-four gentlemen gathered under a Buttonwood tree at 68 Wall Street, on May 17th, 1792 and negotiated the terms of the brand new speculative market. The document that they all signed is known as the Buttonwood Agreement.¹
Sycamore trees grow rapidly, and are quite striking in the landscape. The appeal of quick shade tempts many home-owners. Care should be taken to make sure that a Sycamore tree is a good choice for the site one has chosen though. The roots can heave concrete sidewalks and clog sewer drains. The leaves and seed balls are large, and can create a mess in high traffic areas. To be an asset to the home-owner, these trees need a large yard, or acreage to grow best. If such a site is available, they will make an outstanding specimen planting, and should be considered.
Sycamores grow best in zones 4 through 9, with ample water, and in well drained soil. It is originally a tree of the eastern American river bottoms, and will attain the greatest height and size in similar conditions. The unique bark plates will shed off of the trunk as the tree grows. A mature specimen will resemble a piece of camouflage fabric, with the upper branches almost totally white. This is caused because unlike most trees, the bark of the sycamore does not have the ability to expand as it grows.
There are a few pests that plague the Sycamore tree, but Powdery Mildew and Anthracnose are the two main problems. A properly applied fungicide will usually take care of most troubles, as this tree is pretty resilient.
Deer are usually unwilling to browse on Sycamores unless they are small saplings. When planted in a sunny area and given plenty of growing room, it can be a striking addition to one's yard. They grow quickly, and can attain an impressive height in just a few years. Just make sure that this tree is suitable for the intended space.
The Sycamore tree tolerates many growing conditions and can succeed in soils that range from alkaline to acid. Soil make-up can be clay, sand or loam. Its moisture requirements range from well-drained, to flood-soaked. This makes it a tree that thrives in many situations. Sycamore trees have good tolerance for drought, and can resist salt spray to a moderate extent. In other words, they will grow just about anywhere, in just about any environment.
The leaves of the Sycamore tree are quite large and resemble a maple leaf somewhat. They are more broad than long, and have several notched lobes. They are a pleasing light green in the summer, and autumn turn a lovely gold.
Male and female flowers are inconspicuous and bloom on the same tree each spring. The result is the unique seed ball that is made up of many seeds called achenes. Some birds use them for food, but they are usually only eaten when the more desirable sources have been consumed.
Sycamores are such a versatile tree with a great history, that if you have the space to spare, one would make a great addition to your landscape.
I come from a long line of Kentuckians who love the Good Earth. I love to learn about every living thing, and love to share what I've learned. Photography is one of my passions, and all of the images in my articles are my own.
Posted by mardijoy (from Washington, PA) on March 31, 2008 at 1:39 PM:
The first 47 years of my life were spent in the "burbs". Four years ago my husband and I moved to an old (apx. 170 yrs.) farmhouse with 21 acres of land around it. A good bit of it is fields, but we have some wooded areas and lots of springs and a small creek. But, we have NO sycamores! We're in southwestern PA and I know sycamores grow here. I read that they do better if they are planted a zone north of their origin. My goal is to find a source for good sized trees (hopefully not to expensive) that I can plant near the creek. I see huge trees that grow along the wet areas along Interstate 79. There are also some that have grown to be huge and they aren't near any water. They are so beautiful. Especially on a dreary winter day. I'm hoping that if I grow them with some protection - maybe a fence, the deer will leave them alone. We have a lot of deer, but there seems to be enough food for them out here so they have been leaving my plantings alone. Of course, we also have a beagle that loves to "woo-ooo-ooo". He doesn't chase them but I think they find him annoying so they don't come close to the house! That won't help the sycamores though, since they will be planted quite a ways from the house.
Melody, I was wondering if it is possible to tell if a young sycamore will have more white on it as it grows older. One of the Pittsburgh cemeteries has a row of sycamores along the perimeter. Some are very white and some don't show very much white. If I can I'd like to pick out ones with more whiteness.
Thanks for a great article. I'm going to save it with my info on trees.
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Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on March 31, 2008 at 4:29 PM:
Hi there! I know right where Washington is. Been through there many, many times. There are some spectacular Sycamores growing along the interstate. I always enjoyed how beautiful they were there. Western PA is lovely, by the way. My ancestors met Gen George Rogers Clark in Brownsville (used to be Red Stone) and floated down the Monongahela to the Ohio River in 1777 and founded Louisville.
As to your question, I do not know the answer. The bark of a Sycamore does not expand, so it chips and shreds off. That is why the younger branches are usually whiter...they are actively growing.
If you choose a tree with lots of white, it will keep that trait as it grows. That's about the only advice I can offer. Also, deer don't find sycamores very tasty. They will eat other plants before eating Sycamores...but they will eat them if there is nothing else. They just have other things that they like better.
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Subject: Watering and ferfilizing newly planted evergreen trees
Posted by wmerrick (from renton
(United States)) on March 31, 2008 at 12:12 PM:
I have just planted 30 trees and I live in the Pacific Northwest Renton, Washington 98059. I have read about planting trees which I followed for burlaped and and container trees from the nursery. I want to know what fertilizing and watering schedule I should follow. Thanks, Walt
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Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on March 31, 2008 at 4:18 PM:
Hi Walt,
Generally speaking, young trees shouldn't have a heavy feeding regime. An all purpose time release fertilizer for the first year should be sufficient. As hard as it is to think about, you don't want much top growth of your young trees for the first year. You need to establish a good root system that can then support the new growth.
Trees should have an inch of water once a week. If there is not enough rain, then water deeply all the way out to the edge where the branches extend over the roots. This is called the 'drip line' and the roots will expand out as far as the branches grow out as the tree matures. Limit the water to once a week, and water deeply then. This will encourage deep root growth, instead of shallow roots, near the soil line.
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Subject: Buttonwood rediscovered!
Posted by frankford (from East Lansing, MI) on March 26, 2008 at 8:48 PM:
This is a very charming and authoritive article on a tree not often selected for today's landscapes. The bark on a sycamore is just as lovely as a paper birch.
I've enjoyed mature Sycamores planted on campus of MSU . They seem to fit nicely with the tall buildings and also with taller trees by the Red Cedar River. They certainly have a way of brightening up a dull winter landscape.
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Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on March 26, 2008 at 10:10 PM:
Thanks for the compliment. I love Sycamores. This article was a joy to write.
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Subject: Syc' 'em!
Posted by ViburnumValley (from Scott County, KY) on March 26, 2008 at 9:00 AM:
Great article, Melody. This tree is too oft overlooked as an ornamental.
For wetter and lowland areas, there is no better tree for speedy growth short of a silver maple. Its stately character and distinctive bark is the tracery that delineates water courses in the landscape. I never tire of observing that (especially during the winter ) in my travels around central KY.
Thanks for writing about a plane tree.
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Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on March 26, 2008 at 2:44 PM:
Wonderful vision of a stately tree.
thanks, Melody.
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Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on March 26, 2008 at 5:17 PM:
My all time favorite tree - truly !!
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Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on March 26, 2008 at 10:12 PM:
Thanks ya'll. I enjoy our native trees, and will do more articles to introduce folks to some overlooked species.
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Subject: Love Sycamores
Posted by sallyg (from Anne Arundel Co., MD) on March 26, 2008 at 8:13 AM:
Thanks for writing about one of my favorites- we inherited two with this yard. You're right tho- not all homeowners will want to deal with the large leaves or the balls that disintegrate into fuzz piles along the sidewalk etc.
I never spray for the fungus and it just outgrows it. The tree is widespread in Maryland.
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Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on March 26, 2008 at 3:19 PM:
I love sycamores, too.
Thanks for a very well written (always) article.
Sharon
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Posted by Bubba_MoCity (from Missouri City, TX) on March 26, 2008 at 3:49 PM:
They grow well in the south, too.
Aunt and uncle had 5 in front of their house in Tulsa, to offer shade.
The morning sun was too much for our current house, so planted one in the Houston, Tx area. Tree was 14' tall about 2" diameter - by second year, the leaves were doing exactly want we wanted.
I have had to do some root and limb pruning, but wouldn't trade it for another.
We use the leaves and limbs (after shreding) as compost and mulch.
Thanks for the article.
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Posted by LariAnn (from Miami, FL) on March 26, 2008 at 4:45 PM:
Thanks! If I lived up north, I'd be sure to have some of these trees. Down here I can't grow them, but I do grow Rainbow Eucalyptus instead.
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Posted by melody (from Benton, KY) on March 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM:
Sycamores are such a wonderful sight. I can't imagine the landscape without them.
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Posted by Aunt_A (from Tulsa, OK) on March 27, 2008 at 10:59 PM:
Love the Sycamores. Tons (no joke) of the limbs from Sycamores and almost every other variety of tree came crashing down this last winter during the December ice storm. I hated seeing the white limbs piled beside the curb all over town for the city limb pick-up. I convinced hubby to pick up a couple small limbs. They are in the corner of my living room...LOL. I'm not sure what we are going to do with them, but they were too beautiful to send to destruction. I wish more people would have figured out ways to re-use the lovely wood instead of just wasting it. 3 months later limbs are still piled in front of houses...waiting.
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Posted by Bubba_MoCity (from Missouri City, TX) on March 28, 2008 at 9:31 AM:
Every major wind that comes by - nature prunes our tree. LOL
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Posted by sallyg (from Anne Arundel Co., MD) on March 28, 2008 at 9:37 PM:
I would agree it tends to drop small branches more than other trees I have. And one of our two got its top snapped off by Isabel.
I can't believe how many Sycamores I've seen around here this week since I've been looking for them.
to paper pulp, the Sycamore quickly became a multi-purpose tree. It was one of the first trees purposely planted for commercial harvest.
Deer are usually unwilling to browse on Sycamores unless they are small saplings. When planted in a sunny area and given plenty of growing room, it can be a striking addition to one's yard. They grow quickly, and can attain an impressive height in just a few years. Just make sure that this tree is suitable for the intended space.
