American Sycamore

Arbor Walk #60, Treekeeper ID #5449

The Sycamore is regarded as one of the largest trees native to eastern North America, and was historically prized by Native Americans for the construction of dugout canoes. Ecologically, they are early colonizers to newly available habitat, and support animal shelters as they mature.

The American Sycamore typically reaches heights of 75-100 feet but are known to reach 150 feet plus in their ideal environmental conditions, which include flood plains and stream banks. The Sycamore is easily identified at a distance from its brown outer bark which exfoliates irregularly to reveal a distinctive white inner bark. The Sycamore leaf is easy to mistake for the Sugar Maple leaf. For example, the Sycamore leaf was accidentally depicted on the Canadian penny instead of their iconic Sugar Maple leaf that is present on the Canadian flag.

Common NameAmerican Sycamore
Latin NamePlatanus occidentalis
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