TAQUITOS SATURDAY – OCT. 12th FROM 10AM to 3pm – Picnic in our Petting Zoo Park and enjoy some delicious food!

END OF SEASON PERENNIAL BLOWOUT SALE! – ALL 1 GALLON POTS $6 EACH OR 10 POTS (OR MORE) FOR $5 EACH!

we are open monday – saturday – 8:00am to 5:00pm

Sunday 10:00am – 3:00pm

american sycamore

Platanus Occidentalis – American Sycamore Tree – American Planetree

American sycamore - Platanus occidentalis

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), also known as American planetree, western plane, or water beech, is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree native to the eastern and central United States. Its distinctive mottled bark and wide-spreading crown make it a valuable addition to gardens and landscapes.

Habitat and Distribution

Natural Range: American sycamore thrives in southeastern Canada and the central and eastern United States.
Preferred Growing Conditions: It prefers moist soils near rivers, streams, and wetlands.

Companion Plants:

Tamarack (Larix laricina): Deciduous conifers that complement the evergreen sycamore.
Black Spruce (Picea mariana): Another conifer that shares similar growing conditions.
Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata): Vibrant red berries provide a striking contrast against the sycamore’s green foliage.

Species Details

Height: Typically grows to 80 –130 feet high, occasionally reaching taller.

Width: Trunk diameter can be 5 – 10 feet in deep soils.

Light Exposure: Prefers full sun to partial shade.

Fruit/Flower Type: Seed cones with slender, yellow-green scales ripening to brown.

Fall Color: Foliage remains green throughout the year.

Watering Requirements: Requires moderate watering, especially during dry spells.

Fertilizer: Minimal needs; adapts well to nutrient-poor soils.

Pruning: Selective pruning to maintain shape and remove dead branches.

Image: Bruce Marlin, CC BY-SA 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons

Category: Trees – American sycamore near me – American planetree

American sycamore - American planetree - seed
Image: Jeff Turner from Santa Clarita, CA, United States, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons