Platanus occidentalis #3 (Sycamore)

Sycamore trees are majestic, massive and unmistakable. It is one of the tallest deciduous broadleaf trees, and the largest by diameter in the forests of eastern North America. “By the beautiful bright smooth bark, the Sycamore is known as far off as the color can be descried; it shines through the tops of the forest even in the depth of summer when the leafy crowns are heaviest. In winter against a stormy sky it looks wonderfully living, amidst all the appearances of lifelessness in other deciduous trees.” (Peattie, pg. 370)

Sycamores are trees of the bottomlands, riverbanks, and floodplain forests with deep, fertile soil. They prefer these conditions in cultivation as well, but are somewhat adaptable. Their growth rate is fast, especially in favorable conditions. The mature height is typically around 75-100′ with a similar spread, but many larger specimens have been documented. This is definitely not a tree for small spaces and should only be planted where there is plenty of room to grow and spread. The spherical fruits and large leaves can be messy when they drop in winter, and they have no salt tolerance, so it is best to locate them away from streets, sidewalks, driveways and structures.

The ecological value of Sycamores is very high. In their maturity, they have a tendency to form large hollows. These old hollows and cavities can provide shelter and nesting sites for bats, squirrels, raccoons, owls, woodpeckers, Chimney Swifts, Great Crested Flycatchers, and Wood Ducks. The huge, wide branching habit of older trees also provides the perfect nesting sites for Bald Eagles and Great Blue Heron rookeries! The seeds are a fall and winter food source for Dark-Eyed Juncos, Purple Finches, Gold Finches, Black-capped Chickadees, Cedar Waxwings, and many more. Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds gather the flower down for their nests. At least 45 species* of Lepidoptera host on the foliage of Sycamores, providing a juicy buffet of caterpillars to hungry insectivorous birds and baby birds.

Sources:
Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines by William Cullina
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael A. Dirr
A Natural History of North American Trees by Donald Culross Peattie
Gardening for the Birds by George Adams
Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees by Charlotte Adelman & Bernard L. Schwartz
Missouri Botanical Garden
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Illinois Wildflowers
The Morton Arboretum-Black Walnut Tolerance

Photo Credits:
Mature Winter: Cbaile19, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mature Bark: David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Seed Detail: Rasbak, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons