American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Marty Aligata
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Platanaceae
- Genus:
- Platanus
- Species:
- Platanus occidentalis
- USDA Symbol:
- PLOC
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 3700 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Abbot's Bagworm Moth (Oiketicus abbotii), Adoxophyes furcatana, Ailanthus silkmoth (Samia cynthia), American Dagger Moth (Acronicta americana), American plum borer (Euzophera semifuneralis), Ancylis platanana, Bagworm moth (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis), Banded Tussock Moth (Halysidota tessellaris), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Chain-lined geometer moth (Cingilia catenaria), contracted datana (Datana contracta), Dead-wood Borer Moth (Scolecocampa liburna), drab prominent (Misogada unicolor), Ectoedemia clemensella, Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Gelechia albisparsella, Gelechia desiliens, Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae), Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Io moth (Automeris io), military pococera moth (Pococera militella), Mottled Prominent (Macrurocampa marthesia), Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Puss caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis), Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), Sabulodes caberata, Sugarcane borer (Diatraea saccharalis), sycamore leaf blotch miner (Ectoedemia platanella), Sycamore Pinion (Lithophane signosa), Sycamore Tussock Moth (Halysidota harrisii), Synanthedon resplendens, two-toned ancylis moth (Ancylis divisana), Walker’s Atlas Moth (Samia walkeri), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), woodland leafroller (Pandemis lamprosana)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Ancylis platanana, drab prominent (Misogada unicolor), Ectoedemia clemensella, Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), sycamore leaf blotch miner (Ectoedemia platanella), Sycamore Tussock Moth (Halysidota harrisii)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow, brown
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Mature trees can resprout from the root crown following fire. Thick bark provides some fire resistance.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Thrives in floodplain and riverbank environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. Best sown on moist soil surface in spring after cold stratification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds germinate at 30/20 C. Germination was greater in light than dark. Seeds are planted in late April using a Love seeder set at 2nd gear at 12 setting into prepared field beds.
Establishment: Seeds are purchased from local people who collect within a 50 mile radius of the nursery. Seeds are also collected in Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Sulphur, Oklahoma. P. occidentalis is found within temperate deciduous forests of North America, from Maine to Iowa, south to central Texas and east to Florida. Populations also occur in northern Mexico.
Source: npn.rngr.net