Sycamore, Bare Root

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

A very large floodplain tree with mottled bark and broad leaves. It suits stream buffers and open landscapes with enough ground for the eventual crown and roots.

Key Characteristics

Small seeds for winter birds

Purple finches, juncos, goldfinches, and Carolina chickadees use the seeds. Leave some seed balls and natural ground cover within a habitat planting.

A river-corridor scale

Use it where a large canopy can develop without crowding buildings or utilities. Seedlings are small now, but this is not a compact shade tree.

A visible winter trunk

Patches of pale bark become prominent after leaves fall. Shedding bark is part of normal growth, while persistent branch dieback deserves inspection.

Product Details

• Native range: Southeastern Canada and central and eastern United States
• Life cycle: Deciduous woody perennial tree
• Sun: Full Sun
• Soil moisture: Medium; Medium-Wet; Wet
• Mature height: 75–100 feet; varies with seedling and site
• Bloom time: April–May
• Bloom color: Red, Green, Yellow
• USDA hardiness zones: 4–9
• Fruit or seed: Rounded hanging seed balls break apart to release wind-dispersed seeds.
• Pollination: Wind-pollinated; no named variety partner is needed for landscape use.

Planting and Ongoing Care

Keep bare roots moist until planting and spread roots without bending them into a tight hole. Water during establishment, mulch clear of the trunk, and protect young trees from browsing and mowing damage. Base feeding on a soil test; our Tree Planting Kit fertilizer blend can be used according to its label when needed.

Anthracnose can affect new leaves in cool, wet springs. Maintain vigor, remove hazardous dead wood, and assess recovery before treating. Avoid insecticides on open flowers. These are seedlings rather than selected clones, so growth, flowering, and fruiting vary.