View Larger Sycamore

Planted at Mount Vernon

Planted at Mount Vernon Fruit Garden & Nursery

  • Fruit Garden & Nursery

  • Hardiness Zones

    4 4 5 5b 6 6b 7 7b 8 8b 9 9b USDA basemap

    Average annual extreme minimum temperature 1976-2005

    map legend 4 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b

    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 Trees

    Bloom Season

    April

    Seasons

    Summer Summer

    Specifications

    Max height Max Height: 100'
    Max spread Max Spread: 100'

    Uses

  • Shade Tree
  • Rain Garden

  • Sunlight Exposure

    Full Sun Full Sun

    Tolerances

  • Air Pollution
  • Deer

  • 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 .


    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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