​With spring just around the corner, Athens is in for a colorful transformation any day now. Between the various city-scaping, crepe myrtles, Bradford pears, and other flowering trees, everywhere you look you’ll see flowers blooming. But today we’re here to talk about one of the prettiest flowering trees of all: the Eastern redbud. 

​Scientifically known as Cercis canadensis, and sometimes colloquially referred to as the Judas tree, the Eastern redbud is a medium-sized species famous for its stunning display of pinkish-purple blooms. Though they don’t offer much in the way of fall color, these trees are still highly popular for ornamental use in backyards and parking lots alike, thanks to their stunning spring display and low-effort maintenance. 

​To start, they aren’t picky about their soil. Eastern redbuds can thrive in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, well-drained and clay soils, making them well-suited to the Georgia red clay found everywhere in this area. 

​They prefer full sun to partial shade, needing about 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight a day to thrive – not a big ask here in the South. Their moderate watering requirements once established are usually met by the average rainfall here, so beyond watering when you first plant one, you don’t have to worry about them much.

​Eastern redbuds are also one of the faster-growing tree species, so you won’t have to wait long for your landscape design to come together. You will easily see between 1 to 2 feet of height growth per year until your tree reaches maturity. You won’t have to wait long for flowers, either, as these trees can start showing off as early as four years old!

​On average, Eastern redbuds will top out around 20 to 30 feet tall, with a similar crown spread averaging 25 to 35 feet wide. This makes them the perfect size for the average front or backyard – big enough that you can’t miss it, but small enough that you don’t have to fear it falling on your house or shed!

​Most Eastern redbuds will feature one or more short trunks with a tall, rounded crown (sometimes compared to the shape of an umbrella). The crown is comprised of visually engaging, zig-zagging branches and twigs.

​The leaves of the Eastern redbud are idyllically heart-shaped and average between 3 to 5 inches long, putting them squarely on the larger end of the leaf size spectrum. When they first emerge in their alternating pattern, they range from deep red to reddish-brown in color before turning dark green for the summer. In the fall, they pale to a green-ish yellow.  

​The bark of the Eastern redbud is generally gray with scales, giving the trunk and thicker branches some interesting texture to show off in the colder months. New growth comes in dark reddish-brown to black, setting up the perfect contrasting background for the real star of the show: the flowers. 

​As early as April, the Eastern redbud beings to develop pea-like flowers that range from light pink to pinkish-purple in color, often with varying shades present on a single petal. As a ramiflorous species, the flowers and fruit grow on bare branches, usually before any leaves appear. With no green to break up the view, the Eastern redbud in full bloom presents a stunning picture of bright pink purple flowers that stand out starkly against their darker branches. 

​These pretty flowers yield brownish-black pods, known as legumes, that average 2 to 3 inches long. Often, these seed pods will linger on the tree well into the winter, before finally dropping to be dispersed by local wildlife. 

Sources:
Arbor Day Foundation
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest

Sourwoods, scientifically called Oxydendrum arboretum, are native to North Carolina, but can be found today all throughout the southeast. The common name for this species comes from the sour taste of the leaves and sap. Other names for the sourwood include the sorrel tree, sorrel gum, sour gum, arrow wood, elk tree, and lily-of-the-valley tree. 

​This last name comes from the fragrant white flowers the tree produces in early summer. The bell-shaped blooms dangle from drooping stalks and very much resemble lilies-of-the-valley, though the two aren’t actually related. Each flower yields an oval-shaped fruit less than half-an-inch in diameter. The fruits in turn yield dual-winged seeds that float away on the wind.

​Sourwood flowers stand in stark contrast to the tree’s oblong, dark-green leaves. Each leaf spans 4 to 8 inches in length and features fine toothing along the edges. They grow in an alternating pattern, and often remind onlookers of laurel. 

​The color doesn’t end with summer, though. Sourwoods also offer a showy display of fall foliage when the weather cools that can include crimson, burnt orange, purple-red, and even golden yellow. In the months between autumn and spring, sourwoods still offer visual appeal with their ridged, reddish-brown bark. 

​In addition to their ornamental value, sourwood trees grow fairly quickly, and can add up to 2 feet of height per year until they reach maturity. Once fully-grown, the sourwood’s trunk can average 8 to 12 inches in diameter. Wild trees in their native habitat can reach heights up to 60 feet, and crown spreads of nearly 100 feet. However, when grown domestically, they top out around 25 to 30 feet tall with a crown spread of 20 feet. This makes them ideal additions to backyards, parking lots, city sidewalks, public parks, and more. 

​Sourwoods are also an ideal choice for landscaping thanks to their tolerance. They can grow in most kinds of soil, so long as it’s well-drained, and can handle moderate droughts. The only caveat to keep in mind is their sun requirement: sourwoods prefer full sun exposure, which means at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. 

​If you are considering adding a sourwood to your property, remember that these trees are incredibly long-lived, with average lifespans between 100 and 200 years. 

Sources:
Bark and Garden
Art of Gardening
Arbor Day
NC State Extension
Portland Nursery

We’ve featured a lot of oak trees as our Tree of the Month, but it’s high time we feature Quercus georgiana, the oak tree named after our fair Peach State! 

​Despite the familiar moniker, you may not have heard of the Georgia oak before. These deciduous red oaks are pretty rare, and are actually on many conservationist watch lists, as their population borders on endangered. 

​Georgia oaks are also sometimes referred to as Stone Mountain oaks, as the first of the species was discovered near Stone Mountain, Georgia. These southeast natives occur naturally along the sandstone and granite outcroppings in the area, and can also be found in small pockets of South Carolina and Alabama. 

​Despite this preference for dry, rocky ground, Georgia oaks can tolerate a wide variety of soil compositions, assuming their root systems remain well-drained. Regardless of their conditions, they do require full sun, or at least 6 hours of direct exposure every day, in order to thrive.

​Most oak trees are notoriously slow growers, and Georgia oaks are no different. However, unlike most oak species, Georgia oaks act more like shrubs in the wild. They stay lower to the ground, averaging around 25 feet high, with wide, compact crowns ranging from around 15 to 30 feet across. 

​Of course, some Georgia oaks will follow a more stereotypical “tree” growth pattern, and reach heights upwards of 50 feet. Domestic specimens, such as in landscaping, are also often pruned and guided to grow this way. If you’re willing to wait, they make great shade trees in the summer!

​Georgia oak leaves follow the same 5-finger pattern of other oaks, though the lobes are less defined than other species. The bright green leaves are shiny and waxy on the surface, with hairless, pale-green undersides. In the fall, these leaves will change to rust-reds and warm browns, making them a colorful addition to Georgia’s autumn foliage displays.  

​The bark of the Georgia oak can range from light gray to light brown in color, and will mature from smooth to scaly as the tree ages. New twigs and leaf buds appear reddish-brown. 

​Georgia oaks are monoecious, which means both male and female reproductive organs are present on a single tree. However, the species is self-incompatible, which means that they require another of their species to cross-pollinate with in order to reproduce. 

​A properly pollinated Georgia oak will grow small brownish-gray acorns that reach barely a half-inch long on average. These acorns are a treasured source of food for the surrounding ecosystem, but may be a nuisance in your backyard, so be sure to weigh the pros and cons before adding a Georgia oak to your landscaping!

Source:
Wildflower.org
NC State Extension Gardener
American Forests
International Dendrology Society
International Oak Society

​Quercus nigra, more commonly known as the water oak, is a highly adaptable oak species native to the southeastern United States. These handsome trees have also been called names like the spotted oak, duck oak, punk oak, orange oak, and even possum oak. 

​Though naturally found in swampy areas along ponds and river beds (which is why we call them water oaks!), this species is surprisingly content with almost any soil composition. Water oaks can handle well-drained conditions, and even grow well in compacted soil, meaning they get on just fine in the hard red clay Georgia is known for. 

​This adaptability doesn’t extend to sun exposure, though. Water oaks require full sun, which means at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Some trees will tolerate light shade, and most can weather occasional cloudy, rainy days. But too much shade can be fatal. Luckily, there’s no shortage of sunlight in the South!

​Water oaks are one of the fastest-growing yet shortest-lived oak species. They can easily add more than 2 full feet of height each year until they reach maturity, when they top out at around 50 to 80 feet tall. But they live only an average of 60 to 80 years.

​The sprawling canopy of these trees generally spread just as wide as they do tall, making for excellent shade from the summer sun. These canopies vary in overall shape, with some staying more rounded while others grow more conically. 

​Though the canopies are visually attractive, and often lead to these trees being used in landscaping and cityscaping, water oak wood is notoriously weaker than other oak woods. The limbs are liable to break and snap under their own weight, and are especially at risk in high wind conditions. 

​The main trunk of the water oak is often slenderer than one might expect for its size, reaching only a few feet in diameter over the course of the tree’s life. The bark on these trunks starts out smooth and creamy brown. As the tree ages, rough and scaly ridges appear, and the color fades to grayish-black. 

​Water oak leaves can be anywhere from 1 to 5 inches long and ½ an inch to 2 inches wide. They can feature as many as five gently-sloping lobes, but may also be smooth with no lobes at all. Their color ranges from dark green to bluish-green on top. The underside is generally a pale bluish-green with rust-colored hairs that run along the leaf veins. 

​Despite the wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, water oaks are very easily identifiable by their leaves alone. All water oak leaves feature a rounded lobe at their tip that looks almost like a drop of water. 

In the fall, water oaks offer a showy display of yellow foliage that they hold on to well into the winter months before finally shedding. Cylindrical male flowers and female spikes lead to an abundance of acorns that average a mere half-inch in length. These acorns are often striated brown and black, and are topped with a shallow cap. They require two seasons to mature before they can grow into their own tree.

​As with all oaks, water oaks are susceptible to oak wilt, an often-fatal disease. Their softer wood is prime real estate for pests such as nut weevils, leaf miners, oak lace bugs, and other borers. 

​If you suspect your water oak (or another tree) may be infested or infected, check out our article on the signs of decay! 

​For more species spotlights, browse our collection of Tree of the Month articles.  

Sources:
Arbor Day Foundation
NC State Extension
UTexas Wildflower Center
Augusta Recreation & Parks

​Our next tree of the month is the mayhaw, a type of hawthorn tree known for its sweetly tart berries. This native species can be found all throughout the southeast, and is popular both for the brilliant and variegated colors of its berries as well as the delicious jams and syrups made from those berries. 

​The mayhaw tree, scientifically classified as Crataegus aestivales, prefers to grow in moist soils and can be found along river and creek beds under the cover of hardwood trees. They’re pretty hardy, though, and can adapt to dryer environments, like your backyard! In the wild, they grow mostly as trees, though if they don’t have enough space, they’ll spread out more like a shrub. If you plant one, you can cultivate it however you’d like. 

​Where other plants might wither or crisp in the hot Georgia sun, mayhaws actually love it. They prefer full sun exposure, or at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day, making them a great choice for Southern landscaping. They can tolerate partial shade if necessary, though, so don’t worry if your yard doesn’t get sun all day. 

​Because they grow fairly quickly and densely, mayhaws are a great choice to create a privacy screen or hedge. They also offer cooling shade if grown into tree form rather than bush form. Though potentially susceptible to rust, mayhaws are surprisingly resistant to most diseases, even those known for impacting other hawthorn species.

​The leaves of the mayhaw have a pretty classic leaf shape, with subtle parallel lobes on either side. They have fairly prominent ribbing, and take on a deep, warm green color in early spring, which contrasts nicely against the bright white flowers. 

​Mayhaws are technically in the rose family (and they have the thorns to prove it!) but their blooms don’t look much like roses. Instead, they have five white petals surrounding a greenish-yellow center with multiple dark stamens. These flowers start popping up in early spring before giving way to the edible mayhaw berries. The small fruits start out small and green, but soon transition to a bright cranberry red when fully ripened. 

​Though berries can often be seen well into June and July, mayhaw berries are usually harvested in May, which is where they get their name. Eaten raw, mayhaw berries are incredibly tart. However, if you live in the South, then you’re probably familiar with mayhaw jelly. This popular spread is the perfect balance of the tart berries coupled with sweet sugar, and makes a perfect topping for toast or filling for a pie. Mayhaw berries are also the main ingredient in mayhaw syrup, which can be spread on pancakes, drizzled over sausage, or added to other recipes. 

Sources:
NC State Extension Gardener
Explore Southern Living
How to Use Mayhaw Fruit
Mayhaws – Wild Legacy of the South
Two Men and a Little Farm

Taxodium distichum, more commonly known as the bald cypress, is a native staple to the deep South. These classic, pyramidal trees with the wide, buttressed bases are often found clustered together in large stands along coastal areas, bayous, marshes, and swamps. 

​With their imposing limbs and wide trunks often draped with Spanish moss, they make for a haunting image – and for good reason! Bald cypress trees in the wild often grow well over 100 feet tall with trunks over 6 feet wide. The species is one of the oldest living in the world, with most mature trees well into their hundreds.  

​These towering behemoths are perhaps best-known for the conical “cypress knees” (scientifically called pneumatophores) they grow in wet conditions. There’s plenty of speculation as to the function of these nodules that spring up from the roots, but science hasn’t yet identified any one definite purpose. One common theory is that these protrusions provide structural stability in waterlogged swamplands. Another theory purports that they might help channel oxygen to the root system.

​Though native to the wetlands, bald cypress trees actually grow quite successfully in more urban settings, easily adapting to both wet and dry conditions. A highly tolerant species, they can adjust to most any soil type and are generally unbothered by air pollution and short flooding. Thanks to their low-maintenance lifespan and quick growth rate of 1 to 2 feet a year, bald cypresses are a popular landscaping choice for street trees and parking lot fixtures. 

​This flexibility also allows them to be grown by homeowners, where they offer lightly dappled shade. The only upkeep is the occasional pruning of dead, dying, or damaged limbs. You’ll also want to ensure full-sun exposure, or about 6 hours of direct sunlight each day – not hard to do in the South! 

​If you do decide to add one of these beauties to your yard, it’s important to remember their massive size when picking a place to plant. Though they definitely won’t reach into the 100s of feet like they would naturally, domestically-grown bald cypresses still manage impressive heights of 50 to 70 feet, with a crown spread of up to 25 feet at maturity.

​The bald cypress is a conifer, or cone-bearing, species with needles for foliage rather than leaves. These needles grow in pairs along slender branches and can vary in color, straying to the yellow-green end of the spectrum in spring and changing to reddish- and orangish-browns in the fall. 

​As one of only five deciduous conifer species, bald cypresses shed their needles in the fall. But don’t worry – their gray-brown bark exfoliates in long vertical strips, giving those bare trunks an attractive mottled appearance. 

​This loss of needles is popularly assumed to be the origin of the common name. They go bald in the fall, hence “bald cypress.” Despite this theory, there is no historical record indicating where the name came from.

​The cones of the bald cypress are much smaller than the pinecones you’re used to seeing, and are generally only about an inch in length. They start out green in the summer, and then fade to brown before they fall, where local wildlife eats the tiny triangular seeds they house. 

Sources:
​LSU AgCenter
Arbor Day Foundation
NCA State Extension Gardener
Gardening Know How
Clemson Home & Garden Information Center
The National Wildlife Federation
​Britannica
​Perfect Plants

​Our newest Tree of the Month is, in our humble opinion, one of the prettiest trees we’ve ever seen: the flowering dogwood. 

Also known as the Florida dogwood, St. Peter’s Crown, and just plain-old Dogwood, Cornus florida is most well-known for its large, showy “flowers.” We put that in quotations because what most people would consider the dogwood’s flower is actually four bracts, or modified leaves. 

​These four bracts can be stark white to deep pink in color, and usually have a dimple on their outer edge that causes them to curl into a point. The true flowers of the dogwood are the little green clusters in the center of the four bracts, often mistaken for stamen or pollen pods. 

​​From one end to the other, the bracts measure around 3 inches long on average, making them larger than most tree flowers. As the “flowers” of the dogwood are actually bracts, they last much longer than typical flowers do, and can bloom as long as May all the way through October. 

​In addition to this long flowering season, dogwoods also offer beautiful color displays throughout the year, making them a favorite of landscapers and homeowners alike. Long, handsome dark-green leaves herald in the warmer months prior to flowering season. In the fall, these leaves change to brilliant scarlet reds and deep mahogany purples. Small, glossy-red berries offer more months of color, and attract a range of winter birds and small animals. And when the tree is fully bare, the pretty speckled bark is revealed. 

​Dogwoods can naturally be both single- and multi-trunked, and with a little cultivating, you can encourage your tree to either. Typically, dogwoods grow as wide as they do tall, with a full, spreading crown of nearly horizontal branches. Most dogwoods will stay on the smaller side, reaching heights between 20 and 30 feet tall (though some have been recording surpassing 40 feet!). 

​When it comes to caring for these native trees, dogwoods are relatively low-maintenance. They are both heat- and cold-tolerant, so they can handle the scorching summers and occasional freezes of the South. On a regular day, they prefer partial shade, which means around 4 hours of direct sunlight. 

​Though the roots need to be kept cool and moist, the tree itself doesn’t need constant watering. The best way to help out a dogwood is by adding a few inches of mulch around the base to protect the roots from drying out. Otherwise, the natural rain patterns and sun levels of Georgia will get the job done. 

​If you’re thinking of planting your own flowering dogwood, be sure to keep its sun requirements in mind, but there isn’t much else to worry about otherwise. 

​In the wild, flowering dogwoods are often found growing beneath larger forest trees. Their root systems don’t mind sharing, and their growth pattern can accommodate height restrictions. 

​As a bonus, these trees have a moderate growth rate of 13 to 24 inches a year, so you won’t have to wait too long to enjoy those gorgeous “flowers!”

Sources:
Wildflower.org: Cornus florida
NCSU Extension: Cornus florida
Arborday.org: White Dogwood

Quercus laevis, more commonly known as the turkey oak, is a short, sometimes shrub-like tree native to the southeastern United States. We call it the turkey oak (or sometimes the turkey-foot oak) because its leaves have three distinct lobes, and they look a whole lot like turkey feet.

​The hardy species is also sometimes called the scrub oak, because it grows best in scrub land. Where other trees might wither and die in sandy, low-moisture soil, turkey oaks thrive.

​In fact, the turkey oak’s native habitat is the dry, sandy, well-drained soils found in places like the Carolina bay rims, old beach sand dunes, or even coastal plain ridges with quartzite and acidic rock types.

Basically, this tree really likes soil that’s inhospitable to most other tree species!

As it prefers well-drained soil, the turkey oak is pretty drought resistant, making it a great choice for areas with low annual rainfall. 

These trees can also stand against heavy wind and inclement weather without uprooting, as their shorter stature protects them against the worst of the elements.

​This overall hardiness makes them a popular choice to prevent erosion in coastal areas, but it also means they are often seen as weeds by homeowners.

​​In the wild, turkey oaks often make up the understory of long-leaf pine forests. They have lower sunlight requirements, so they don’t mind the shade.

On average, the turkey oak will reach 26 to 33 feet high, putting it squarely on the small side of the tree size spectrum. With a little pruning, you can even grow this species like a shrub! 

Its branches spread out wide, giving the tree a shorter, stouter appearance. Unlike other oak species, the turkey oak has an irregularly-shaped crown. 

The bark of the turkey oak starts out smooth and dark brown (or even blackish) in color. As the tree ages, this bark lightens to a warm reddish-gray and breaks into deeply furrowed ridges. ​The inner bark is usually a warm red color throughout the tree’s lifetime.

As we mentioned, the turkey oak gets its name from its turkey-foot-shaped leaves. While the leaves are young, they do often resemble turkey feet, with 3 deeply divided lobes.

An interesting feature that makes turkey oak leaves unique is their growth pattern. Most trees hold their leaves horizontally, so they are displaying as much leaf surface as possible for photosynthesis. ​Turkey oaks, on the other hand, hold their leaves vertically. 

​​This protects the leaves against the hottest hours of the sun, so they don’t burn, and lets them photosynthesize best in the morning and evening, when the sun is lower in the sky. ​

The turkey oak is a deciduous tree, which means it sheds its leaves annually. Usually, deciduous trees offer a brilliant display of fall colors before their leaves dry out, turn brown, and fall to the ground.

Turkey oak leaves do change color in the fall, usually to yellow or orange-red. But they don't try out as quickly as other oak species.

​​In fact, turkey oaks will hold onto their beautiful burnt-gold leaves well into the winter!

​In the spring, turkey oaks grow acorns just like any other oak tree. They take the average 18 months to mature before they can start sprouting, and average less than an inch long.

​Turkey oak acorns are an important source of food for a variety of wildlife, including the black bear, white-tailed deer, and of course, the wild turkey.

Though you might expect the flowers of the turkey oak to also bloom in the spring, the male catkins actually don’t start appearing until around November. They produce high amounts of pollen, and may be responsible for your winter allergies!

​Though it deviates from the typical oak characteristics in many ways, the turkey oak is still an oak tree. That means it’s still susceptible to diseases like chestnut blight, shoestring root rot, oak leaf blister, cankers, and even mildew. If you suspect that your turkey oak is showing signs of decay, don’t hesitate to give us a call! 

Sources:
NC State Plant Toolbox
Augusta Recreation and Parks
University of Florida Extension
Carolina Nature
​NGA Plants Database
North American Trees

Quercus alba, more commonly known as the white oak tree, is one of the most important trees in America. These gentle giants are native to the continent, and can be found from Florida all the way to Canada, and as far west as Minnesota. Their presence helps encourage native biodiversity and discourage invasive species. White oak is heavily relied on in the lumber industry, and can be used for everything from furniture to houses.

White oaks get their name from the color of newly-cut wood, which is much lighter on the inside. The bark on the outside is an ashy grey color, and grows in flaky plates that overlap, creating a series of furrows and scales. Eventually, older bark layers will fall to the ground and be replaced with new ones. Many white oak owners see the pieces of bark littering the ground and worry their tree is diseased or otherwise dying. But the flaking bark is completely natural.

The branches of the white oak grow much lower to the ground than other tree species, and spread horizontally more so than vertically. This gives the tree an overall rounded appearance, as it grows nearly as wide as it is tall – which is saying something, because these trees reach average heights of 50 to 80 feet! Wild white oaks left undisturbed at moderate altitudes have been known to reach heights well over 100 feet, and can live as longs as 600 years. 

That growth doesn’t come easy, though. When young, white oaks may grow anywhere from 1 to 2 feet in a year, but as they age, that rate slows down considerably. The trunk of the white oak is generally just as massive as the rest of the tree, with an average diameter of 3 to 4 feet. 

White oaks prefer full sun or partial shade at all life stages, which means at least 4 or so hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. They’re pretty adaptable to most soil textures and compositions, but deep soil is a must, as a white oak’s tap root (the main root that grows straight down) grows incredibly long. This long tap root makes these trees difficult to transplant, even when young – so if you plant one, be sure you’re absolutely confident in where you put it!

The leaves of the white oak are appropriately sized for the tree they grow on, and average anywhere between 4 and 8 inches long and 2 and 5 inches wide. Both sides grow 3 to 4 rounded lobes, with another rounded lobe at the tip. When they first sprout, the leaves are a soft, silvery pink color, and covered in soft, downy fuzz. Once they’re established, the leaves develop a bright green on the top with a softer, whiter green on the bottom. In the fall, white oak trees change to a mix of deep reds, reddish-purples, and dark oranges.

White oak trees are what’s known as monoecious, which means they both male and female flowers on the same tree. The male flowers, called catkins, are skinny yellow clusters that hang down from the branches. On average, they sit around 4 inches long. The female flowers are smaller, reddish in color, and more spikey. 

In the fall, before the leaves drop, these flowers will produce acorns that are generally at least an inch long, with about a quarter of that covered by a warty cap. These acorns germinate quickly, within just a few days after falling from the tree, which makes them extremely easy to cultivate.

​It’s important to remember, though, that the acorns, along with the shedding bark and fall leaves, can present quite a ground litter problem – especially if they’re in your yard. But, if you don’t mind a little raking, white oaks make perfect shade trees in the hotter months, and will stand for generations to come. 

Sources
​Arbor Day Foundation
Tree Inspection
Sciencing.com
Gardening Know How
Georgia Native Plant Society
Cutting of the Mingo Oak
ISU: White Oak
Plant Places

For our next Tree of the Month, we’re featuring one of the biggest trees in North America, aptly named the American Sycamore. These behemoths can reach heights over 100 feet on average, with trunks measuring between 5 and 6 feet in diameter. 

Platanus occidentalis is also known as the Eastern Sycamore, American Plane Tree, Plane Tree, Buttonwood, and Buttonball Tree. While these trees can be found throughout the Southeast, they’re native to North Carolina. They prefer full sun exposure with plenty of water, and are naturally found along streams and bottom lands. Once fully established, these Sycamores are moderately drought-tolerant. 

In addition to being one the largest trees in North America, American Sycamores are also one of the fastest-growing. They can add up to 6 feet to their overall height each year. As they’re getting started, these trees have a pyramidal shape.  But, as they age, the midsection fills out nicely.

Though eventually reaching a rounded shape, the crown of the American Sycamore is asymmetrical, with widely-spaced, crooked branches growing randomly in all directions.  

​One of this species’ defining features is its mottled, flaky bark.  ​​The outermost layers, which are generally a darker greyish-brown, lose their elasticity and break off in irregular chunks, revealing lighter grays, browns, and whites underneath. ​This flaking will lessen as the tree reaches full maturity and its growth rate slows down.

American Sycamore leaves are generally wider than they are long, with 3 to 5 pointed lobes.  In the Spring, the medium- to dark-green leaves are accompanied by very tiny red and yellow flowers that grow in clusters.

​Sycamores grow both male and female flowers on the same tree, so they can self-pollinate. ​

As the weather warms, the flowers will develop large, globular fruits nearly 2 inches wide. Each fruit dangles off its own rather thin stalk. ​They make popular treats for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife, who will happily pluck them from their branches or steal them after they’ve fallen. 

Though the fruits will eventually dry out and fall to the ground, they are what’s called achenes, which means they retain their seeds rather than expelling them.  ​If you cut one if half, you’ll find that the dried exterior is attached to feathery, fluffy seeds inside that are designed to be eaten or blown away in the wind.

While the fruits of the Sycamore are one of the things that make them attractive, they’re also one of the reasons these trees don’t make great lawn ornaments. Most trees just drop dried leaves in the Fall, which can still be a pain to clean up, but is pretty normal. Sycamores, on the other hand, scatter their large, dried seed pods all over your yard. 

These trees also present problems when it comes to their size. Many homeowners don’t realize quite how big an American Sycamore can get, and naively plant one near their driveway or out in the backyard. ​

And while they are generous shade trees—so much so that they can save you money on your power bill in Summer by keeping your house cooler—they also block the sun from reaching any plants underneath them. Those widespread branches can also easily interfere with nearby powerlines. 

But the real threat of the Sycamore is the one under your feet. While it’s easy to forget to account for the roots when it comes to planting any species, failing to do so with a Sycamore can have drastic (and expensive) consequences. The roots of the American Sycamore spread deep and wide, and are notorious for damaging underground piping, cracking pavement and driveways, and even rupturing septic tanks. 

​Definitely do your research and plan ahead if you’re thinking of adding one of these beautiful trees to your landscape!

Sources:
LBJ Wildflower Center Plant Database: Platanus occidentalis
Fast Growing Trees: American Sycamore Tree
NCSU Extension Gardener: Platanus occidentalis
Organic Plant Care: American Sycamore
Yale Nature Walk: American Sycamore
Atlas Obscura: Sycamore