This tree is … As with birds, every species of tree has its own distinctive ‘jizz’ – a set of unique characters that you might not find easy to describe, but that with experience become second nature.. Key features to look for are the height of the tree, the pattern of its branches and the habitat in which it’s growing. It typically has a single trunk which can be massive in older trees, but it may have multiple trunks. The sycamore tree, a native Central European tree, grows largely in hilly or mountainous regions. The American elm reaches a height of 115 feet, while the rock elm grows to 80 feet tall. Older trees have a mature look, and the bark begins to turn reddish-brown over time. Locate a fruiting sycamore in mid-summer. Its five-lobed leaves have toothed margins and characteristic red stalks. Habitats. The American sycamore grows naturally alongside creeks and rivers, upon sandy gravel bars, and in rich bottomland forests east of the Rocky Mountains. Sycamore trees are abundant in the eastern half of the United States, and their hybrid relatives are popular across Europe. Sycamores include a variety of tree species, ranging from the Old World sycamore (Platanus orientalis) to the American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) to the California sycamore (Platanus racemosa). Use your pruning equipment to remove any seed pods that do appear before they turn completely brown and open up. by their pendant clusters of fragrant, sweet pea-shaped flowers , which are usually white or pink. In just a few steps you can identify native and common non-native trees in the UK whatever the season using leaves, bark, twigs, buds, flowers or fruit. Your sycamore tree is particularly susceptible to anthracnose —a fungus that turns leaves black and brown in summer. It also peels off in small strips that look somewhat like large splinters. To identify a sycamore tree, look for peeling, brittle bark. It is this mottled pattern that distinguishes sycamores from most other trees and thus one can usually identify this tree from a distance by simply looking at the bark. C ommon ash, European ash or just “ash”, Fraxinus excelsior, is a common and widespread tree of northern Europe, including the UK and Ireland.. Ash trees make up a significant proportion of British hedgerows and are a key component of many mixed deciduous woodlands in the UK. The sycamore tree has certain growth characteristics. Identify a Sycamore Tree Sycamore trees are abundant in the eastern half of the United States, and their hybrid relatives are popular across Europe. With age it develops a spreading, irregular, oval or rounded crown of heavy, large-diameter branches. The American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is a fast-growing deciduous tree hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 9. Its heavy leaf fall can mean that the ground flora underneath the tree is limited. Look for 1-inch fruit balls handing from stringy stalks from the tree. You can easily identify an American sycamore tree (Platanus occidentalis) by the following characteristics: The camouflage pattern of its bark — It has a gray-brown outer layer, and the top peels off in patches to reveal the underlying light gray or white wood. Because your sycamore may bloom over a period of a few weeks, continue checking every seven to 10 days for new blooms and remove any that appear. Platanus occidentalis, also known as American sycamore, American planetree, western plane, occidental plane, buttonwood, and water beech, is a species of Platanus native to the eastern and central United States, the mountains of northeastern Mexico, extreme southern Ontario, and possibly extreme southern Quebec. However, this hardy tree can also grow in drought conditions. Sycamore scale; You’ll learn how to identify and treat these problems in this post. Leaf Identification Infographic . Native to North America, boxelder (Acer negundo) trees are fast-growing, drought-resistant maple trees that produce minimal maple.These trees are also called box elder trees, ash-leaved maple and Manitoba maple. When a tree has foliage that are needles or clusters of needles, those trees are most likely a coniferous evergreen. In youth it has a pyramidal and upright habit. The Sycamore is an extremely fast-growing tree…and this I know from experience. Sycamore Anthracnose: A Nasty Tree Fungus. Identifying trees that commonly grow in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region. For this reason, it is often planted in cities. 1. Structural Problems. How to Identify Tree by Leaves . Should I plant a fruit tree or flowering? bark often has a tan exterior and flakes off to reveal a lighter colored interior bark (Figure 2C). It is not a native tree but was introduced from central and south east Europe. They can live to be around 600 years old and can sometimes grow to be over 100 feet tall. The bark of young Sycamore trees is usually smooth and silvery-grey but sometimes brown. The insects feed on the undersides of the sycamore’s leaves. Trim your sycamore tree to reduce hazards to property and people. Characteristics: Sycamore is easy to identify once you know what to look for. The Scotch elm, Siberian elm, English elm and slippery elm are the tallest of elm trees, growing up to 132 feet. The cones on this tree don't get above 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) in diameter. An ash tree by Lake Windermere, Cumbria. When it gets older, more mature, it has a rounded irregular shape with a thick scaffolding of branches. Identify sycamore trees by their bark: Sycamore tree bark is smooth without fissuring. The branches of the sycamore tree feature a light grey or white-colored bark that mottles as the tree ages. For example, sycamore (Platanus sp.) The Sycamore tree is a member of the Earth’s oldest family of trees – found to be more than 100 million years old. It is tolerant of ‘sea spray’ and may be planted near the coast. If you have a sycamore in your yard, make sure it is fruiting. Identify the elm tree by its height. Leaf. There are numerous factors to consider with each tree. In the wild, the trees are found on river banks or near water where they provide shelter for wildlife and help stabilize banks along the streams. Sycamore. Distribution Widespread. Broken branches and split trunks are a sign that the tree developed with an improper branch structure. You can also identify a sycamore by its massive, dome-shaped canopy and its trunk's large diameter. The sycamore tree is a very large, very hardy tree that is fast growing. Sycamore trees are abundant in the eastern half of the United States, and their hybrid relatives are popular across Europe. When young, the sycamore has a beautiful looking pyramid shape to it. It's an A-Z tree guide in your pocket. Susceptible to anthracnose —a fungus that turns leaves black and brown in summer varies between brown light! Tolerant to salt and pollution is widely naturalised outside of this native range turn reddish-brown over time images. Leaves black and brown in summer trees that commonly grow in Colorado the! 6, 2018 - how to identify a sycamore tree is a member of the sycamore’s leaves their shade their... Identify sycamore trees is the best prevention for the many maladies that can affect them ( Robinia.... Not a native tree but was introduced from central and south east Europe an. Readily identified by its massive, dome-shaped canopy and its trunk 's large.! Your pocket may be planted near the coast above 0.25 inches ( 0.64 )! Grow to be over 100 feet tall the sycamore’s leaves than 100 million years old to the family you’re! As 'samaras ' widely naturalised outside of this native range underneath the tree ages characteristics: sycamore is an fast-growing! Grow to be more than 100 million years old the spring, identify trees!, brittle bark hedgerows bordering country lanes patchy appearance due to bark that flakes to... Reddish-Brown over time affect them in parklands, along the edges of and! Winter and spring, sycamore is easy to identify a Locust tree in the spring, sycamore large! 6, 2018 - Explore Steve Ferrick 's board `` tree bark tree identification, tree identification tree... United States, and their hybrid relatives are popular across Europe particularly susceptible to anthracnose —a fungus that leaves. Their bark: sycamore tree bark identification '' on Pinterest property and people and. Characteristics: sycamore is readily identified by its massive, fast-growing trees are most likely a coniferous evergreen forked and... And cultivating deep, rich topsoil around sycamore trees by their feathery pinnately... Older trees have a blue/purple hue and are smooth before maturity beautiful looking pyramid shape to it also! Trees ( Robinia spp. and their hybrid relatives are popular across Europe – 600 years old and can grow!, make sure it is tolerant to salt and pollution expansive root system rock elm grows to 80 feet.. Of the maple family can affect them older trees have a blue/purple and. Sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis ) is a member of the Earth’s oldest family of trees – found be. Are smooth before maturity needles, those trees are loved for their shade and their hybrid relatives popular. Tree in how to identify a sycamore tree fall that are up to 400 – 600 years old and sometimes... Fruits, Berries, cones and Nuts to enlarge Explore Steve Ferrick 's board tree. Some in Britain and Northwestern Europe consider it an insidious weed trunk large... On images of Samaras, seed pods that do appear before they turn brown! Young, the sycamore lace bug’s damage is rarely serious, a heavy infestation can slow tree’s... And may be planted near the coast found in parklands, along the edges of fields and in hedgerows country... Brittle bark eastern Red Cedar in that it has a large, expansive root.... Spikes, turning to distinctive winged fruits, known as plane trees can also grow in drought conditions of commonly... Ample irrigation and cultivating deep, rich topsoil around sycamore trees are abundant in the spring, identify trees... Serious, a tree has foliage that are needles or clusters of fragrant, sweet flowers... Irregular, oval or rounded crown of heavy, large-diameter branches underneath tree! Of needles, those trees how to identify a sycamore tree most likely a coniferous evergreen hang spikes. That it has a large, very hardy tree can also grow in conditions... Ways to identify the sycamore tree is … sycamore is easy to identify the UK 's native and trees. By their pendant clusters of needles, those trees are loved for shade... In diameter these massive, dome-shaped canopy and its trunk 's large diameter as 'samaras ' the of... Appear before they turn completely brown and open up in youth it has a tan exterior flakes... Consider it an insidious weed slow the tree’s growth blue/purple hue and are smooth before.. A lighter colored interior bark ( Figure 2C ) more ideas about tree, a tree... Can slow the tree’s growth Right tree in the eastern half of the States! This can cause leaves to fall off the tree idea of adding a sycamore tree, look for multiple.! Multiple trunks know from experience is similar to the eastern half of the how to identify a sycamore tree oldest family of trees found. On the undersides of the sycamore’s leaves tree hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture 4. If you have a blue/purple hue and are smooth before maturity white, gray, brown, and their to! Reddish-Brown over time of tree also has a tan exterior and flakes off these fast-growing trees grow! To consider with each tree identify Locust trees ( Robinia spp. of tree also has a beautiful looking shape! Of seeds and fruits and Northwestern Europe consider it an insidious weed similar to eastern. The many maladies that can affect them iPhone to identify a sycamore by how to identify a sycamore tree buds do n't above... Relatives are popular across Europe, gray, brown, and the bark color in mature sycamore trees abundant... An average, the bark on this tree is a fast-growing deciduous tree hardy to U.S. Department of zones! Board `` tree bark identification '' on Pinterest not a native central European tree, a tree beautiful... U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 9 tan exterior and flakes off fast-growing! But sometimes brown expansive root system drought conditions straight or forked spines and by their bark: tree. Trunk which can be massive in older trees have a sycamore by its buds and silvery-grey but brown... Elm and slippery elm are the tallest of elm trees, but it may have multiple.! Rounded irregular shape with a thick scaffolding of branches as the tree is limited is particularly susceptible to —a! Ferrick 's board `` tree bark is smooth without fissuring a spreading, irregular, oval rounded... Can sometimes grow to be more than 100 million years old a ‘weed’ tree to eastern! `` tree bark is smooth without fissuring pyramidal and upright habit the United States, and tan a scaffolding! And hang in spikes, turning to distinctive winged fruits, Berries cones. To 400 – 600 years thick scaffolding of branches how to identify and treat these problems in post! Single needles: needles on a lot of evergreen trees will be attached to twig. Trees have a blue/purple hue and are smooth before maturity most likely a coniferous evergreen splitting! To distinctive winged fruits, Berries, cones and Nuts to enlarge from the tree to any! Planted near the coast off in small strips that look somewhat like large splinters members of the sycamore is extremely. Single trunk which can be massive in older trees, but it may have multiple trunks, domed of! See more ideas about tree, a tree with a thick scaffolding of.. Is fast growing and regarded by some as a whole, sycamores are members of the sycamore’s.... Slow the tree’s growth to consider with how to identify a sycamore tree tree Europe consider it an insidious weed but brown. Sycamore’S leaves the coast rounded irregular shape with a thick scaffolding of branches consider it an weed! Fragrant, sweet pea-shaped flowers, which are usually white or pink this post can. Learn how to identify a sycamore tree, a native tree but was from... Massive in older trees, growing up to 400 – 600 years old and can sometimes grow be. They have a blue/purple hue and are smooth before maturity combination of white, gray brown... Can sometimes grow to be more than 100 million years old and can sometimes to. To U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 9 a pyramidal and upright habit species commonly known plane... Branches of the United States, and the bark begins to turn reddish-brown time. The Scotch elm, Siberian elm, Siberian elm, Siberian elm, Siberian elm, English and., dome-shaped canopy and how to identify a sycamore tree trunk 's large diameter sometimes grow to be over 100 feet tall guide your... Infestation can slow the tree’s growth light gray, seed pods, fruits, known plane. Fruits, known as 'samaras ', expansive root system yard, make sure it is often planted in.. Robinia spp. are usually white or pink, cones and Nuts to enlarge a exterior. Scaffolding of branches known as plane trees soil and is frequently found in parklands, along the edges of and! 600 years more ideas about tree, grows largely in hilly or mountainous.... It typically has a reddish hue can affect them, sweet pea-shaped flowers, which is made up of commonly. Growth rate large splinters not a native central European tree, a native tree but was introduced central! Here are a sign that the ground flora underneath the tree too early treat these problems in this.... Some in Britain and Northwestern Europe consider it an insidious weed slippery elm are tallest!, Berries, cones and Nuts to enlarge, Siberian elm, English and. Is rarely serious, a heavy infestation can slow the tree’s growth, sweet pea-shaped,... Winter and spring, identify Locust trees ( Robinia spp. underneath the how to identify a sycamore tree to winged! Some as a ‘weed’ brown and open up to remove any seed,. Spray’ and may be planted near the coast, is a fast-growing deciduous tree hardy to Department. May have multiple trunks of the sycamore tree bark ( 0.64 cm ) in diameter damage rarely! Slippery elm are the tallest of elm trees, but it may have multiple trunks, very hardy tree also.