California Sycamore
Platanus racemosa
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Platanaceae
- Genus:
- Platanus
- Species:
- Platanus racemosa
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- More than 40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- apr
- Bloom Colors:
- Yellow
Native Range
United States: California
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Gelechia desiliens, Phyllonorycter felinelle, Synanthedon mellinipennis, Synanthedon resplendens, Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found along streams and rivers
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).
Source: OpenAI GPT-4o