Wildlife
- Small mammals
Finches, juncos, chickadees and small mammals eat the seeds, and its very large size provides high wildlife value.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native tree
American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 4–9
- Grows 75–100 ft
$11.95Was $14.95Save 20%
5.0 out of 5 · 1 reviewsThe quick answer
American sycamore is a fast-growing native shade tree for USDA zones 4-9 that reaches 75-100 ft tall and 50-70 ft wide in full sun to part shade. Buy it for big shade, wet or streamside sites, and striking white, peeling bark. It needs a lot of room and drops leaves, bark and seed balls.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
plants
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
American Sycamore plant profile
Mature size75–100 ft tall · 50–70 ft wide
Typical (75 ft)Up to 100 ft
Massive trunk with a broad, spreading, open crown; bark peels to show white, tan and green patches.
USDA hardiness zones4–9
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Grows in full sun to partial shade.
SoilpH 5.5–8.0
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers deep, moist to wet, rich soil and tolerates clay, alkaline soil and occasional flooding.
Native to the USYellow-brown to brown fall color
Flowers & fruit
Inconspicuous ball-shaped flowers in spring become round seed balls that hang on through winter.
Leaves & fall color
Yellow-brown to brown in fall. Very large, maple-like lobed leaves turn yellow-brown to brown in fall.
Pests & disease
Anthracnose commonly browns spring leaves; lace bugs, scale, borers and leaf spots also occur.
Pruning
Prune in late winter to remove dead or broken limbs and keep a strong central leader.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your American Sycamore
SPRINGLarge maple-like leaves emerge; anthracnose can brown new leaves in cool, wet springs
SUMMERBroad shade canopy; white, peeling patchy bark shows on upper limbs
LATE SUMMERRound seed balls form on long stalks
FALLLeaves turn yellow-brown; seed balls hang on through winter
Questions people ask about American Sycamore
How big does an American sycamore get?
Typically 75-100 ft tall and 50-70 ft wide, so it needs a large yard or open property.
Why are my sycamore leaves brown in spring?
Usually sycamore anthracnose, a fungus that browns new leaves in cool, wet springs; trees normally releaf by summer.
Will sycamore grow in wet soil?
Yes. It grows naturally along rivers and streams and does well in moist to wet soil.
Is sycamore messy?
It sheds peeling bark, large leaves, twigs and seed balls, so keep it away from patios, pools and gutters.
What arrives when I order a sycamore?
A dormant bare-root tree, 2-3 ft tall, with no leaves. Plant it promptly and water it in well.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Water regularly until it's established.
Customer Reviews
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Trees arrived exactly as expected. Thank you
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: Morton Arboretum, NC State Extension.