S & J Nursery's guide to growing 

Sycamore Trees

in the Northeast Florida Landscape

 ( Platanus occidentalis )

Sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis )

Sycamore Origins:

 - Native to North America

Sycamore Preferred Exposure:

 - Full sun to light shade

 Sycamore Foliage | Bark:

 - Deciduous foliage of the Sycamore tree has three to five lobes and is similar in appearance to a maple leaf except that it is a fair bit larger, up to 10 inches across, covering even the largest of human hands with all fingers outstretched.

 - Sycamore foliage is a light green color and may turn a yellowish tan in fall before falling off for the winter. ( not really a reliable source of fall color in our warm climate)

 - Perhaps the Sycamore trees greatest asset is its white bark that peels off in patches to reveal smooth new bark beneath adding a textural interest to the trees already showy large light green leaves.

- Sycamore seed pods are brown ball shaped clusters that hang on branches in the winter and are great for using in indoor fall decorations.

Sycamore Soil Preference / Salt tolerance:

- Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions and a wide PH tolerance including highly alkaline. Great to plant into wet prolonged flood prone areas.

 - Sycamore trees have only moderate salt tolerance, able to be used within a block or two from direct salt spray.

Sycamore / Platanus occidentalis Size Variance:

 - can reach sizes of 70-90+ feet H | 50 -70+ feet W depending on how many trunks are allowed to develop when young

 Sycamore Growth Habit:

 - upright narrow almost a Christmas tree shape when younger, taller than it is wide but spreading out to eventually form a more rounded appearance with age

 Sycamore Growth Rate:

 - extremely fast growth rate, perhaps the fastest growing shade tree for the North Florida area landscape.

Sycamore / Platanus occidentalis Blooms:

 - red inconspicuous bloom is followed by large ball shaped seed pods in winter that hang on bare branches.

 Sycamore Water Requirements:

 - Supplemental irrigation may be necessary in extremely well drained areas

Butterfly or Bird Attracting:

- n/a

 Best Uses For Sycamore / Platanus occcidentalis:

 - Sycamore trees are a good choice for poorly draining areas where room allows for the massive mature size of these trees. Also tolerant of high PH soils that cause problems for other trees.

 - Allow plenty of room when planting as roots will cause damage to surrounding hardscape if planted to close.

Care of Sycamore:

 - Water every day during the establishment period. See watering your newly planted trees for more information.

 - They will need good water during the establishment period and supplemental irrigation during dry spells or particularly hot dry summers.

 - Prune dead or weakened branches each summer as needed when young and thin branches to approximately 2 ft apart for best appearance.

- Provide a 1 ft diameter circle of mulched area where grass is kept from growing for each inch of caliper (or diameter) of trunk measured 4 inches from the ground level.

 - Fertilize each spring with a mixture of milorganite and a slow release poly coated plant food such as Osmocote or Stay Green general purpose plant food, sprinkling the fertilizer around the mulch circle underneath the foliage of the tree

 Click here for more information on Sycamore trees for the North Florida | Jacksonville | St. Augustine area landscapes

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