Sycamore Maple Acer pseudoplatanus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser soo-doh-PLUH-ta-nus
- Description
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Sycamore maple or planetree maple is a deciduous tree in the the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family native to northwest/Central Europe and Western Asia. It is a rounded, spreading, tree that grows 40-60’ (less frequently to 100’) tall.
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerant of a wide range of soils, some drought, and salt. Generally tolerant of many urban pollutants. Prefers cool summer climates and does not perform well in the southeastern U.S. south of USDA Zone 7.
This may not be the best selection for the landscape since it is not particularly ornamental and has poor fall color. It may be used as a shade tree. It is often planted along the east coast because of its tolerance for salt spray.
The cultivar 'Atropurpureum' is a dark-leaved variant. The leaves are showy, green above and a velvety purplish-red on the underside. The fall color is an orange-red.
'Brilliantissium' also has showy leaves. New leaves are a brilliant shrimp-pink, turning a pale yellow-green, then a light to medium green above and pale green below. Reaches a height of 20'.
'Esk Sunset' is another cultivar with showy leaves. In the spring, the leaves will emerge as an orange-pink then mature to shades of deep green. They are splashed with cream, tan and pink with maroon below. Grows to a height of 12-15'.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Canker is an issue for this tree.
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:
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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:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- 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
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4b, 4a, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Samaras (to 2” long) with the wings typically forming a 60 degree angle. Samaras mature in early autumn.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Insignificant , yellow-green flowers appear in panicles (to 5” long) in spring after the foliage emerges.
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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:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leathery, coarsely-serrate, prominently-veined, 5-lobed, dark green leaves (to 6” across) are dull green beneath. Leaves produce no fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Rectangle
- Bark Description:
- Bark on mature trunks will flake, 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:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Pollution
- Salt