Sycamore Maple Acer pseudoplatanus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser soo-doh-PLA-ta-nus
- Description
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Sycamore maple is a deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) native to northwest and Central Europe and Western Asia. It is often found in coastal areas in the United States. The Genus name is Latin for maple. The specific epithet means false sycamore.
This maple grows 40-60 feet or more and spreads 25-40 feet with a broad rounded crown. It tolerates urban conditions, salt, some drought and various well-drained soil types in full sun to partial shade. It prefers cool summer climate and doesn't do well above zone 7.
The spring flowers are insignificant and there is no showy fall color. The wind disperses the winged samaras and produces numerous saplings that can become dense stands.
Sycamore maple is considered invasive in some northeastern states because it crowds out native plants. Please consider planting native maples. See some suggestions to the left.
Quick ID
- exfoliating bark
- bud remains green throughout the winter
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Canker is an issue for this tree. See potential insect and disease problem fact sheets to the left.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Atropurpureum'
Dark, showy foliage. - 'Brilliantissimum'
Young foliage shrimp-pink. - 'Esk Sunset'
Showy foliage. - 'Nizetii'
Variegated foliage. - Purpureum
Green to blue-green leaves. Underside light green with red/purple tinge.
- 'Atropurpureum'
- 'Atropurpureum', 'Brilliantissimum', 'Esk Sunset', 'Nizetii', Purpureum
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Atropurpureum'
Dark, showy foliage. - 'Brilliantissimum'
Young foliage shrimp-pink. - 'Esk Sunset'
Showy foliage. - 'Nizetii'
Variegated foliage. - Purpureum
Green to blue-green leaves. Underside light green with red/purple tinge.
- 'Atropurpureum'
- 'Atropurpureum', 'Brilliantissimum', 'Esk Sunset', 'Nizetii', Purpureum
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- pseudoplatanus
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Shade tree
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northwest/central Europe and western Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Salt and air pollution tolerant, tolerant of some drought
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 2-winged samaras are 2 inches wide, produced in fall, are wind-dispersed and easily germinate.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Yellow-green panicles are 4-5 inches long in spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The green leathery leaves are 3- 6 inches across and have 5 lobes with the lower two being smaller. The undersides are pubescent along the veins. The base is cordate. No fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Rectangle
- Bark Description:
- Bark on mature trunks will flake in small rectangular scales exposing inner orange bark.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Glabrous, gray-brown, dull, lenticelled, slightly 4-sided, leaf scars that do not meet.
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Pollution
- Salt
- Problems:
- Weedy
