American Sycamore

Platanus occidentalis

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.

Note: American Sycamore is a high maintenance tree and requires regular cleaning of leaves, twigs, strips of bark, and seeds.