Woody > Acer > Acer pseudoplatanus > Acer pseudoplatanus
Acer pseudoplatanus
Sycamore Maple
Origin: Eastern Europe.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A European variety that is seldom used in North America since it might possibly be considered somewhat invasive. A. pseudoplatanus can reach a height of 20+ metres and is a broad, dense canopied tree. Since it occurs in lean, often poor soils it can be used in similar situations in the landscape. A wonderful tree where room permits, such as parks and institutional settings. Best planted where the full form of the tree can be appreciated.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Sapindaceae (Aceraceae) |
| Genus |
| Acer |
| Species |
| pseudoplatanus |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 5 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 4 - 6a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-29) - (-23) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| (-20) - (-10) |
| Height |
| 20 m |
| Spread |
| 12 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| A large tree with a somewhat rounded canopy casting dark shade. This species has been placed on the IUCN Red List as least concern. |
| Landscape |
| Parks, institutional landscapes and estates where room is not an issue. A. pseudoplatanus is somewhat salt tolerant and hence it may find limited use as a street tree, especially within developments that have private roads but sufficient space for the tree to develop. |
| Cultivation |
| Easy to grow, tolerant of lean soils and winter salt. |
| Shape |
| Large rounded crown. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| It can easily be distinguished from most maples because of its deeply set venation and it's extremely long petiole (10 cm or greater). |
| Pests |
| It suffers from aphid infestations and the associated sooty mold. |
| Habitat |
| Mountains of Eastern Europe. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Orangish inner bark covered with irregular exfoliating scales that are light grey in colour. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Terminal buds are prominent remaining green throughout the winter and are similar in size and form to A. plantanoides. |
| Leaf Description |
| Deeply veined, opposite, 3-5 lobed, dark green above and light grey green below. Deeply veined with an extremely long petiole. |
| Flower Description |
| Yellowish green flowers on upright panicles to 15 cm. |
| Fruit Description |
| Samara, ripe in early autumn about 5 cm long. |
| Colour Description |
| Dark green in the summer with silver undersides to the leaves and turning a dull, mucky brown in the autumn. |
| Texture Description |
| Rough textured leaves because of the deep venation, smooth on the upper surface. |
| Notable Specimens |
| University of Western Ontario, south of the McIntosh Gallery, London, Ontario, Canada. Godolphin House, Helston, United Kingdom. |
| Propagation |
| Seed which requires stratification, 5 �C for a minimum of 90 days in moist peat moss. |
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