In North America , trees called sycamore belong to to the genus Platanus , and are also called plane trees . There are about eight species of sycamore , six of them native to North America . Most are large , majestic tree with spreading canopy , large lobed deciduous leaves , and white-hot bark peeling to reveal darker bandage .
bet on the metal money , the trees grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant life hardiness zones 4 through 10 , and flourish in full sun or light tint in well - drain soil .
The American Sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis ) , also known as the American planetree or buttonwood , is a expectant deciduous tree aboriginal to eastern and central North America . It ’s one of the big tree diagram in the eastern deciduous forests and is known for its monolithic sizing , fast growth , and typical , exfoliate bark .
On fair , these trees can grow to elevation of 75 to 100 feet , with some specimens hand up to 130 foot . The tree trunk diameter of an American Sycamore can stray from 3 to 8 foot , with some exceptional trees experience trunks as panoptic as 13 feet ( 4 meters ) . The canopy of an American Sycamore is equally impressive , with a spread of 60 to 80 feet , providing ample shade .
These tree have a speedy growth rate , add 3 to 6 animal foot in pinnacle per class . American Sycamores can live for several century , with some Tree get to age of 500 to 600 days . It is also one of North America ’s largest tree , with cover specimens reach over 2,500 years sometime . The large recorded specimen was near Alum Rock in California and valuate 22 feet in diameter and 266 feet grandiloquent when fly in 1964 .
The bark of a untried American Sycamore is smooth and light brown . As the tree diagram ages , the barque begin to peel and flake off off , revealing a mottled mix of people of colour beneath . The outer barque is usually a reddish - brown to grey , while the inner barque exposed by the flaking is a lighter , cream - colored .
The flaking of the bark is most noticeable on the lower trunk and heavy branches . The upper limb and small twigs may retain a smooth , more intact barque . This flake off summons is often bring up to as “ scale ” and is a lifelike part of the tree ’s increase round .
The leaves are alternate , childlike , and palmately veined , mean the venous blood vessel radiate out from a single spot at the base of the leaf . They are broadly ovate , with 3 to 5 lobes , and can be as all-embracing as 4 to 9 inches ( 10 to 23 centimetre ) . The leaf margins are coarsely toothed , and the upper surface is medium to grim green , while the bottom is pale .
The leaves are similar to those of the maple tree , but they are more often than not larger and more deeply lobed . The lobes are often described as “ maple - like , ” and the overall form of the folio is panoptic and hand - like . In the fall , the leave of absence of the American Sycamore grow a beautiful golden yellow , tot to the tree diagram ’s autumn spectacle . The leaf are deciduous , they shine off the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in the fall , leave the tree spare for the winter .
The American Sycamore produces spherical fruit balls . Each fruit ball is compose of legion achene , which are small-scale , dry , one - seeded fruit . These achenes are arranged in a ball-shaped clustering , giving the fruit its characteristic ball - like appearance . The fruit balls are about 3 column inch in diam . They ripen to a brown color in the fall and often persist on the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree throughout the winter , eventually break up up or fall off the following saltation . The fruit balls render food for various wildlife species , admit bird and small mammals , who feed on the seeds contained within the achenes .
The American Sycamore is a pioneer species that can acquire in a variety of environments , from wet sites to old fields . It ’s often find in riparian field ( in lowland areas , along stream , rivers , and flood plains ) , and can grow at elevations from just above sea story to 305 foot in the northern part and 762 feet in the southerly part of the Appalachian Mountains .
This Sycamore is not consider threatened or endanger . However , like many species , it can be involve by home ground loss and degradation . It ’s also susceptible to a variety of disease and pests , including anthracnose , a fungous disease that can cause foliage damage and defoliation .
This tree is highly valued for its wood , which can be used piece of furniture making , cabinetwork , flooring , and veneer product due to its strength , durability , and attractive grain pattern .
