On a winter's day, the sight of the sycamore's bright white trunk against a blue sky is breathtaking. This tree can grow to massive proportions when well-sited and should be given plenty of space, especially since they can be messy.
Latin Name
Platanus occidentalis
Family
Platanaceae
Also Known As
American Plane Tree Buttonwood
Type of Plant
Trees
Bloom Season
April
Seasons
Summer
Specifications
Max Height: 100'
Max Spread: 100'
Uses
Sunlight Exposure
Full Sun
Tolerances
Colors
Native Range
Eastern and central United States
History
While sycamores are native to the Mid-Atlantic region, Washington doesn’t record growing them, except when writing to his farm manager about their use in living fences. He does include an Asian variety in his list of plants ordered in March of 1792 from nurseryman John Bartram .
Planted at Mount Vernon
Hardiness Zones
Average annual extreme minimum temperature 1976-2005
Bartlett Tree Expert Company has been working with Mount Vernon Estate since 2011 providing expert arboricultural care and GPS mapping for the estate’s historic trees, as well as support from their research facility. Mount Vernon is proud to partner with Bartlett Tree Experts and appreciates their sponsorship of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Plant Finder App.
Bring Washington's Garden Home
Purchase our historic seeds, collected from plants grown at Mount Vernon and plant them in your own garden.
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