Sycamore trees grow best in deep, moist, rich soils. The best time to plant one is late winter or early spring. They have a fast growth rate and good tolerance for pollution, wind, wet soil, and even drought. The sycamore tree is a good tree for shade. However, their large size can make sycamore trees a problem, as their widespread, shallow roots can damage pavement, underground pipes, and more. Plan to water your American sycamore tree during periods of prolonged drought and feed it in the spring. Pruning usually isn’t an extensive task. But you do have to watch out for pests and diseases.
Light
Grow sycamore trees in full sun for best results, though they do tolerate some shade.
Soil
Sycamore trees can tolerate a range of soil types and soil pH levels. An average garden loam with good drainage should be sufficient.
Water
For best results, keep the soil evenly moist. An established American sycamore tree has some drought tolerance.
Temperature and Humidity
Adaptable to a wide range of climates (zones 4 to 9), the sycamore tree isn’t troubled by humidity and performs equally well in cooler and warmer zones.
Fertilizer
The sycamore isn’t a heavy feeder. Fertilize it with a complete fertilizer in early spring for an extra boost. Follow instructions on the package closely, as they’ll detail how much fertilizer to use based on tree size. Failure to follow instructions can result in over-fertilizing and possibly burning your plant.
Types of Sycamore Trees (Planetrees)
Platanus occidentalis is one of the parents (the other being Platanus orientalis) of the popular hybrid London planetree (Platanus × acerifolia). The species name refers to its maple-like foliage. Confusingly, there’s a totally distinct plant called sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) that gets its name from its resemblance to the American sycamore tree. There are also planetree cultivars:
Platanus × acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’: More resistant to anthracnose disease than the speciesPlatanus orientalis ‘Digitata’: Has deeply dissected palmate leavesPlatanus occidentalis ‘Howard’: Valued for color of its new leaves, which are bright yellow (though this color fades in summer)
Pruning
For the most part, the sycamore tree needs to be pruned only after limbs have been damaged. The damaged limbs should be pruned back to the collar. Dead or diseased branches should be pruned whenever you spot them. The only need for corrective pruning you might encounter is in those rare instances when a branch grows in a radically upright direction, forming a tight crotch with the trunk. Such an angle results in instability. This type of pruning is best left to professionals. Happily, American sycamore trees generally produce nicely horizontal limbs.
Propagating Sycamore Trees
Sycamore trees can be propagated by seed or by taking (softwood) cuttings. But if your plant is a cultivar, your only means of propagating is by cuttings taken in early summer. Here’s how to propagate a sycamore cultivar via cuttings:
How to Grow Sycamore Trees From Seed
If your sycamore isn’t a cultivar, you can grow it from seed, which comes from the pods. Wait until the pods drop in spring so that nature takes care of any required stratification. Break a pod open to remove its seed. Take off the fuzz attached to the seed. Pre-soak for 24 hours. Fill a planting container with seed-starting medium and moisten it. Sow seed and cover with ¼ inch of seed-starting medium. Keep the medium moist. Seed will germinate in 15 days. Plant outdoors after danger of frost has passed.
Overwintering
American sycamore is a very hardy tree. No extra care is required to overwinter it. Besides that, it’s actually quite stunning in winter. The bark in the upper canopy is white and the branches are geometric, both of which are usually obstructed before leaf drop.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
The American sycamore tree is one of many plants susceptible to aphid infestations. Aphids can invade any landscape, but they run especially rampant on landscapes where the use of chemicals has eliminated aphid predators. If you get aphids, spray with the organic insecticide neem oil. American sycamore also is susceptible to anthracnose. If you live in a hot, humid region, such as the Southeast, your plants are naturally more prone to such fungal diseases. The solution is to grow the cultivar Platanus × acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’, which is resistant to anthracnose.
