DAVIDSON TREASURE TREES
#106 American Sycamore
(Platanus occidentalis)
Discovered by Andrew Sileo, Davidson Town Arborist, in the Lake Davidson Park
Statistics (2025)
- Circumference (In.): 65″
- Height (Ft.): 70′
- Avg. Crown Spread (Ft.): 15′
- Diameter Breast Height (In.):
- Total Points: 139
More Information
- Year Recognized: 2025
- Current condition: Good
- Property Type: Public
- Ecological Value: The American sycamore may grow 75 to 100 feet tall, is equally as wide, and has a trunk diameter of 10 feet or more. It prefers full sun and moist soils with good drainage but is not particular about soil pH or texture. Propagate it by seed. It is moderately deer-resistant yet is a food source for small mammals and songbirds. It tolerates being planted near black walnut, pollution and urban conditions.
The wood is hard and moderately strong. Native Americans hollowed out the trunk of the American sycamore to make canoes. The sap is sweet and can be tapped in the spring for use as syrup and sugar.
When considering American sycamore for a home landscape, keep in mind that it will require a very large space and its littering of twigs and fruits can be messy. Use it as a privacy screen, a shade tree or a street tree. Plant it as a specimen in a woodland, or a children’s, edible, native or rain garden.
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