American Sycamore Platanus Occidentalis 5 Gal

The American sycamore is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 100 feet tall and has a trunk diameter of 10 feet or more. It has a pyramidal shape in youth, and as it develops, it becomes more rounded with an irregular crown and supported by a few large diameter branches. The bark of the tree has a mottled look created by the darker outer layers peeling to expose the lighter inner layers. The bark peels off in patches and the whitened inner bark is the most ornamental trait of this tree. The tree has alternate leaves with 3 to 5 lobes and a coarsely toothed margin. American sycamore is monecious, having both male and female flowers on the same tree. In spring, very small flowers mature in clusters, typically one cluster to a stalk. The tree produces a round fruit ball borne on a 3 to 6-inch stalk. The interior of the fruit ball is fibrous and has many tiny winged seeds or achenes. The American sycamore is native to Southeastern Canada and the Central and Eastern United States. It prefers full sun and moist, fertile soils, but is tolerant of clay, sand, loam, alkaline, and wet soils. It has moderate drought tolerance and is pollution tolerant, but has numerous pest and disease problems. When considering this tree in the home landscape, keep in mind that this will be a large tree and will require a large space. It may be used in a recreational area, and its tolerance of urban conditions makes it an option as a street tree.