Acer pseudoplatanus sycamore maple

Sycamore tree is one of our native maple species and its natural habitat extends vertically from the north of Europe (with the exception of the northernmost peaty locations) to the mountainous areas of southern Europe, and horizontally from the colder parts of western Europe to the Caucasus. It is often found in high altitudes as it is a very hardy tree with minimum soil requirements. There are around 60 different cultivars that vary in leaf colour and mature size, so they can satisfy just about any gardener and a garden of any style or size.

Sycamore tree (not to be confused with American sycamore which is a common name for platanus occidentalis in the US) got its name from the ancient Greek word ‘sucomoros’ which means fig-mulberry (Ficus sycomorus) due to the similarity of its lobed foliage. Rest assured it is different in all other aspects. The species of sycamore tree is a tall, majestic, and exceptionally hardy avenue tree used both in parks and in the wild where it is planted with the intention of balancing the ratio between conifers and broadleaved trees, often in places with shallow or scree soil where beeches or spruces will not thrive. It bears broadly palmate, five-lobed leaves with a span of 10-20 cm, with shallower lobes compared to its close relative Norway maple (a. platanoides). However, as it reproduces by viable seeds (can get invasive) which bring on the fun of occasional variations, the leaves can vary in shape, size, colour saturation, and the underside texture. The upper side is usually medium green and matte, rarely deep green and partially glossy, and the reverse is always much paler (even silvery) and can be softly hairy to completely hairless and smooth. In either way it always makes a cool contrast between the reverse and the upper side which can be seen every time the wind blows in. Petioles are yellow, orange or red.

In the second half of April, along with the emerging leaves, appear up to 12 cm long, pendulous, raceme-like panicles composed of small, yellow-green, melliferous flowers. They are the first of two reasons why this maple is loved by beekeepers. The other one is the foliage which is the food for aphids producing secretions in form of a sweet nectar that bees feast on in summer.

Another attractive feature making sycamore easily distinguishable from Norway maple is the scaly, grey bark with lighter, sometimes even pinkish areas, which later peels off in large flakes. It resembles a plane tree (platanus x acerifolia), but the resulting mosaic is not so pronounced and shows only on older trees.

It grows fast, some 40-60 cm per year and its canopy is rather oval with ascending branches in limited space. Trees growing in open landscape with unlimited root space soon spread to broadly pyramidal shape with rounded top, growing almost as tall as wide. Despite the rapid growth they are well-branched, and canopies of even young trees are relatively dense. They soon cast a pleasant shade in summer heat.

Sycamore tree does not require any maintenance once transplanted. Just water it in its first year and provide a good and strong support for 3-4 years. It is widely soil adaptable as it will grow in almost any well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. It only hates waterlogged ground and salination. On the contrary, it is resistant to all weather whims, and you will find it growing happily even in very exposed mountainous locations where it happens to be a long-lived tree. Its roots do not heave pavements, roads, or disturb foundations, but for good growth we recommend giving the tree a space of at least 2 meters from the trunk. It is usually left unpruned because its large size is why we grow it, but it can be pruned or kept smaller by pollarding. If so, always do it in the frost-free period of winter when the tree has no sap. Just remember that the older tree you prune and the deeper you cut, the faster and longer it re-grows in the following season. Hardy to min. -37 °C. (USDA zone 3).

Last update 28-01-2024