For those who are looking, there are sycamores

sycamore tree
American sycamore tree in winter. Photo: Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org

I knew I had to go back to school to study horticulture when I was in my mid-twenties. Every day on my way to work I found myself looking out the windows at trees instead of watching the road. The Catoctin mountain forest was particularly enticing. Route 15 was a much quieter road then, and fortunately, there were no mobile phones to provide additional distractions. Although I admired the landscape in general, there was one tree that stood out amongst the others: the sycamore. Against a blue daytime sky or a sunrise dancing with pink and purple hues, its white bark was remarkable. The shape of this towering tree with its dazzling bark and color contrast inspired me to leave a secure job in search of knowledge for the things that ignited curiosity in me.

sycamore bark
Sycamore bark. Photo: Karan A. Rawlins. University of Georgia, Bugwood.og

Our native sycamores (Plantanus occidentalis) are one of the easiest trees to pick out in a landscape and one that children can easily learn to identify. As a canopy tree, they stand tall in a landscape, growing to a height of 75-100 feet. A floodplain species, they are particularly noticeable near farm fields that may be lined or intersected by streams and creeks. At the base, their bark is brown and rather indistinct. As the height of the tree increases, however, that brown bark begins to curl and fall off in sheets, leaving a smooth white bark that towers toward the sky. The smooth bark makes it impossible for climbing vines to reach into the top of the tree, leaving the shape of the branches to stand in silhouette against the sky. This starkly white bark is what makes it easy to distinguish from other trees and the feature that makes it stunning in a winter landscape.

Horticulturally speaking, it has both positive and negative features. Sycamores are particularly good at withstanding floods and stabilizing soil. They reduce erosion and slow water flow so that valuable nutrients are more likely to remain in the soil rather than being lost downstream. Sycamores thrive in wet bottomlands.

sycamore seed ball
American sycamore fruit. Photo: Franklin Bonner USFS (ret.), Bugwood.org

Despite their beautiful white bark, I am not advocating that one plant a sycamore in the front yard. The flowers are unremarkable and fall color is poor. They do get interesting looking seed-pods that look like ornaments during the winter, but the combination of those features would not be enough to make me want to plant one front and center in my yard. What I am suggesting, is that you take a moment to notice them and appreciate them for their invaluable contribution to the beauty of the winter landscape.

Just as I enjoyed the sight of sycamores in a winter landscape twenty-five years ago, I still marvel when I look out my kitchen window and see their white bark against a backdrop of pine trees or I watch the sun rise over a swath of sycamores that line the creek. As gardeners, we tend to think of January as the quiet time of year. This may be accurate in terms of getting a rest from back-breaking labor, but it does not apply to the nature of a gardener’s curiosity and the inspiration that is to be found outside in all four seasons. Now is the time to go for a brisk walk or look outside the windowpanes to see that although nature does rest, it never ceases to inspire curiosity and appreciation for those who are looking.

sycamore trees susie hill
Sycamore trees. Photo: Susie Hill

By Susie Quinlan Hill, University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener, Frederick County. This article was published originally in The Frederick News-Post.

5 thoughts on “For those who are looking, there are sycamores

  1. lilyo3 February 22, 2019 / 9:06 am

    Thanks for this essay and reminder to enjoy all the seasons. There are many beautiful Sycamores along the C&O canal.

  2. tonytomeo February 22, 2019 / 9:12 am

    Platanus occidentalis has a huge rangee, but is not endemic to the West. We have our own California sycamore here. It is a grandly sculptural tree with massive trunks that are typically quite gnarly and hollow. There are a few Platanus occidentalis that were planted back in the 1970s or so, but then none that are younger, as if the species had been introduced, but then did not become popular. (The Mexican sycamore was briefly popular like that in Southern California for a brief while just a few years ago and may yet make a comeback.) I was intrigued by the Platanus occidentalis in Oklahome where I noticed it planted to flank driveways. (We were in a region that was probably barelyoutside of the native range.) It is much more adaptable to landscaping than our native sycamore is because it is well structured and more symmetrical, although California sycamore is nice in big areas, where big sculptural trees are preferred.

  3. Sara Tangren February 22, 2019 / 12:51 pm

    What a lovely blog post!

  4. christa1200 February 22, 2019 / 1:25 pm

    Sycamores, aka the “ghost trees,” are some of my favorite trees to see in the winter. There are some great ones along the C&O Towpath.

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