Sycamore maple is a deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) native to northwest and Central Europe and Western Asia. It is often found in coastal areas in the United States. The Genus name is Latin for maple. The specific epithet means false sycamore. This maple grows 40-60 feet or more and spreads 25-40 feet with a broad rounded crown. It tolerates urban conditions, salt, some drought and various well-drained soil types in full sun to partial shade. It prefers cool summer climate and doesn't do well above zone 7. The spring flowers are insignificant and there is no showy fall color. The wind disperses the winged samaras and produces numerous saplings that can become dense stands. Sycamore maple is considered invasive in some northeastern states because it crowds out native plants. Please consider planting native maples. See some suggestions to the left. Quick ID exfoliating bark bud remains green throughout the winter Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Canker is an issue for this tree. See potential insect and disease problem fact sheets to the left. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases. VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University More information on Acer .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in. | Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Lobed; Serrate
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The green leathery leaves are 3- 6 inches across and have 5 lobes with the lower two being smaller. The undersides are pubescent along the veins. The base is cordate. No fall color.
Fall color
Insignificant
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Insignificant; Panicle
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Yellow-green panicles are 4-5 inches long in spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Samara
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
2-winged samaras are 2 inches wide, produced in fall, are wind-dispersed and easily germinate.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Light Brown; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
Bark on mature trunks will flake in small rectangular scales exposing inner orange bark.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Glabrous, gray-brown, dull, lenticelled, slightly 4-sided, leaf scars that do not meet.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Northwest/central Europe and western Asia
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.