Home and Landscape
Sycamore
- Sycamore, London plane tree—Platanus spp.
- Family Platanaceae (Plane tree family)
Plant Identification
Sycamore is a fast-growing deciduous tree reaching 30 to 40 feet tall. It has large lobed maple-like leaves. Seed pods in the form of fuzzy ball-like clusters hang from the branches in winter. Trees can be pollarded to develop a lower canopy.
Optimum conditions for growth
Trees are adapted to a wide range of climate zones. They tolerate most soils and do best in full sun with some deep watering in the summer. Most varieties can be affected by anthracnose and powdery mildew. If trees are regularly pollarded, choose the cultivar 'Yarwood' as it is highly resistant to powdery mildew and its susceptibility to anthracnose will be controlled by pruning.
