SCIENTIFIC NAME: Platanus occidentalis

COMMON NAME: Sycamore, American Planetree

GARDEN SIZE: 75-90 feet tall x 50-70 feet wide

GROWTH RATE: Fast

USDA ZONE: 4-9

EXPOSURE: Full sun

WATER & SOIL: Moist, well-drained soils; tolerates clay, sand, loam; prefers alkaline soils. Requires regular watering after planting, but is drought tolerant once established.

HABIT (FORM): Pyramidal, round, spreading; dense, symmetrical crown

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; alternate, simple, lobed, bright green on top, paler and pubescent underneath; turns yellow in fall

FLOWERS: Red dense clusters on spherical heads, not showy; borne in, spring blooming

PLANT ORIGIN: Eastern U.S. and southern Ontario

WILDLIFE SUPPORT: Host plant for local butterflies and moths, and food source for pollinators, birds, and small mammals. Supplies shelter and nesting sites.

FERTILIZING: May apply organic compost in the spring, but not generally necessary.

PRUNING: Little pruning required, though regular maintenance may be needed in urban environments

TOXICITY FLAGS: Generally considered non-toxic to pets.

USES: Shade tree