American Sycamore Trees at 48" Tall / 5 Gallon $187.00

(Platanus occidentalis)

The American Sycamore is what Skipping Rock Farm calls a "Hero Tree". It's an ecological Heavy-Weight Champion of the forest and it is definitely one of our very favorites! It can anchor a riverbank to prevent erosion or cool down a city street. For certain, its environmental value is hard to overstate! 

American Sycamore is known for its enormous foliage, wide reaching canopy and pale, patterned, exfoliating bark. It is understood to have the largest trunk diameter of all North American Hardwoods and its deep, penetrating root system acts as an enormous underground carbon repository. In addition to its immense trunk and root system, American Sycamore boasts extremely large simple leaves, typically measuring 4"-10" long and a leaf width just a bit wider than its length; contributing to a 13 inch diameter overall. Its trunk is straight and stout while its branches are characteristically crooked and will grow into a broad, shady spread of 30'-50'. 

With such incredible shade potential, its rapid growth rate, remarkable lifespan and heroic, ecological benefits, American Sycamore is among the most preferred trees for large sprawling campuses and recreational landscapes. Its ideal, most healthy environment is within wetland areas such as lowlands, bottomlands, floodplains and stream banks and its best, long-term survival will be within areas with low ground-level ozone. 

Aside from the eye-catching size of its leaves, the autumn color display of American Sycamore can seem somewhat disappointing. The leaves turn yellow and then to brown through an extended, multi-phase abscission cycle which presents as a "willy-nilly" color change and an uncoordinated leaf-drop. Let's just say it can look somewhat disheveled in the fall, but still quite pretty in its own right.

American Sycamore has an impactful wildlife value as cavity-nesting birds and mammals find shelter within its aging trunks while its seed balls are a food source for songbirds.

The wood of American Sycamore is considered a domestic-exotic in that, its use and value depends upon how it is milled/sawn. When it's quartersawn, its grain is highly impressive and beautiful, producing stunning flecks and rays. Such selections are prized for use in fine furniture, architectural paneling, high-end cabinetry, and the fabrication of exquisite stringed instruments. Functionally, due to its impact resistance and that it imparts no odor or taste to foods, it is used for butcher block countertops and cutting boards. Finally, in fast-rotation crops, it is used industrially for pallets, paper pulp, particleboard, and fiberboard. 

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