Sycamore maple | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Soapberry (formerly Maple)
Family (botanic) Sapindaceae (formerly Aceraceae)
Planting site City parkway, Residential and parks, Restricted sites, Wide median
Tree or plant type Tree
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale Non-native
Size range Large tree (more than 40 feet)
Mature height 40-60 feet
Mature width 35-60 feet
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily), Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7
Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
Tolerances Alkaline soil, Occasional drought, Road salt
Season of interest mid spring
Flower color and fragrance Fragrant, Yellow
Shape or form Round
Growth rate Moderate
Transplants well Moderate
Wildlife Insect pollinators
Has cultivars Yes

Native geographic location and habitat:

Sycamore maple is native to Europe and Asia.

Bark color and texture:

Bark is gray, with a flaky quality that reveals the inner bark, giving the trunk a slightly mottled look.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

The simple leaves are in pairs (opposite). They are 3 to 6 inches long, with toothed margins. The five-lobed leaves are dark green in summer with little to no fall color.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

Small, fragrant, pale yellow flowers in upright clusters. Clusters will start to hang as the fruit begins to develop. Inconspicuous by themselves, but somewhat showy when the whole tree is in flower.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

Fruit are winged seeds in pairs (samaras), with each wing being 1 to 2 inches long. The two wings are spread at a sixty degree angle. Initially green, they mature to brown. The fruit hang in dangling clusters.