Also known as the buttonwood, plane-tree, and sycamore, the American sycamore is from the planetree family of plants. It is native to the United States. Botanically, it is known as Platanus occidentalis.
American Sycamore Description
This tree grows 75 to 100 feet high with a wide canopy and very large trunk. There are crooked branches. The bark comes off in scales in the older trees, revealing white smooth bark underneath. Leaves are long pointed and broad, deciduous, and green. They look like maple leaves and get brown in the fall. Fruits are globular and will last into December.
Growing Guide
Grow in any type of lighting with a moist soil. It is cold tolerant. Propagate by cuttings or by seed that overwinter on a tree and get planted in the spring. Any seed that is stored must go through a stratification for at least a month. Cuttings can help yield the whitest bark.
Distribution
This native is seen throughout Alabama, Connecticut, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. It is found in bottomlands, moist woods, and floodplains.
Uses
The wood of the American sycamore is used for flooring, butcher blocks, and for some furniture. It attracts birds and makes for a good shade tree. The sap can be boiled into a syrup and can also make for a good beverage.
Source: NPIN