American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
A fast-growing native giant known for its distinctive mottled bark that exfoliates to reveal cream, green, and brown patches. This majestic tree provides exceptional shade with its broad, spreading canopy and is surprisingly adaptable to various soil conditions. Its unique bark pattern and massive size make it a standout specimen tree that creates a natural focal point in any landscape.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
4–9
USDA hardiness
Height
75-100 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for American Sycamore in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 shade-tree →Zone Map
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American Sycamore · Zones 4–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasional Flooding, Occasionally Wet. Height: 75 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 75 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: more than 60 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Color: Brown/Copper. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Winter
Bloom time: Spring
Edibility: Sap is sweet and tapped in the spring for use as syrup and sugar.
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Black Walnut, Deer, Drought, Pollution, Urban Conditions, Voles, Wet Soil
- +Attracts: Small Mammals, Songbirds
- +Wildlife value: Many songbirds including the Purple Finch, Juncos, American Goldfinch, and the Carolina Chickadee enjoy eating the seeds. The tree hosts wood-boring insects and leafhoppers.
- +Edible: Sap is sweet and tapped in the spring for use as syrup and sugar.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Wild Ginger
Thrives in shade and helps suppress weeds while creating attractive groundcover
Ferns
Natural companions that flourish in the moist, shaded conditions under sycamores
Hostas
Shade-loving perennials that complement the tree's canopy and tolerate root competition
Astilbe
Provides colorful blooms in shade and appreciates the moisture retention from leaf litter
Virginia Bluebells
Native spring ephemeral that blooms before full canopy and naturalizes well
Coral Bells
Tolerates shade and dry conditions while adding foliage color year-round
Wild Columbine
Native woodland plant that attracts pollinators and thrives in dappled shade
Pachysandra
Dense groundcover that suppresses weeds and tolerates heavy shade and root competition
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which can stunt sycamore growth and cause leaf yellowing
Roses
Cannot compete with sycamore's extensive root system and suffer in dense shade
Tomatoes
Require full sun and struggle with root competition and allelopathic compounds from leaf litter
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Susceptible to anthracnose and powdery mildew
Common Pests
Sycamore lace bug, scale insects, bagworms
Diseases
Anthracnose, powdery mildew, canker stain