Green Ash vs American Sycamore - TreeTime.ca

Green Ash vs American Sycamore

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Platanus occidentalis

Green Ash
American Sycamore

Green ash is a fast growing tree with incredible golden yellow leaves in fall. This tree is native to the prairies and is well suited for drought and cold. Green ash can also tolerate soil compaction, periods of flooding and a wide variety of soils including alkaline. This makes green ash ideally suited for use in urban environments.

American Sycamore is the largest tree native to eastern North America. Generally too large and messy to be a street tree, American Sycamore thrives in large, open spaces, such as an acreage or farm.

The bark is one of the main features that draw people to this tree. The outer bark flakes off in irregular pieces to reveal an attractive white, green, and cream colored inner layer, providing winter interest.

American Sycamore has an extremely fast growth rate, gaining up to 6 ft in one year, and will easily reach its mature height in a short period of time. Be wary of this trees' root system, as it's typically very extensive and needs lots of room to expand.

Green Ash Quick Facts

American Sycamore Quick Facts

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Zone: 2b
Zone: 4a
Height: 18 m (60 ft)
Height: 23 m (75 ft)
Spread: 12 m (40 ft)
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: bright yellow in early fall
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: low
Suckering: none

In row spacing: 1.8 - 2.4 m (6 - 8 ft)

Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)


Other Names: downy ash, red ash, swamp ash, water ash