American Mountain Ash vs American Sycamore - TreeTime.ca

American Mountain Ash vs American Sycamore

Sorbus americana

Platanus occidentalis

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

American Mountain Ash
American Sycamore

American Mountain ash is a beautiful, medium-sized ornamental tree that is ideal for residential lots. Mountain Ash blooms with tiny white flowers in the spring, followed by clusters of small red/orange berries in the summer.

American Mountain Ash's berries stay on the tree throughout the winter. This attracts birds and other small wildlife to your landscape as the berries are an important food source during the winter months.

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.

American Mountain Ash Quick Facts

American Sycamore Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 4a
Height: 10 m (32 ft)
Height: 23 m (75 ft)
Spread: 6 m (20 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: none


Fall colour: scarlet red
Flowers: white clusters, spring
Berries: bunches of orange-red
Seeds: seeds contained within the berries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, PE
Native to: ON
Other Names: dogberry