1 named cultivar

‘Regal Petticoat’Regal Petticoat Sycamore Maple

tree

Sycamore Maple

Acer pseudoplatanus

The Story

Plant Bio

Acer pseudoplatanus, sycamore maple, is a large fast-growing deciduous tree from central Europe and western Asia, reaching forty to sixty feet with a rounded crown. Leathery five-lobed leaves three to six inches across are dark green above and paler beneath, and mature bark flakes away in small rectangular scales to reveal orange-brown underneath.

It seeds prolifically and the winged samaras travel, which is why it has naturalised widely and is listed as invasive in parts of the Northeast and Pacific Northwest — seedlings appear across a garden and well beyond it. Where you want a tough large maple, native sugar or red maple does the same job without escaping.

Uses & Benefits:

Flaking orange-brown mature bark and a broad, densely shading crown.

Exceptionally tolerant of salt, pollution, wind and coastal exposure.

Moths and pollinators use it, but on balance it displaces native trees where it naturalises.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Tree

Height

600 inches

Width

390 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Central Europe and western Asia

Toxicity

Seeds and seedlings are toxic to horses

Planting

How to Grow

Check local invasive listings before planting.
Consider native sugar or red maple instead.
Allow twenty-five to forty feet of spread.
Plant in full sun or partial shade in drained soil.
Pull seedlings each spring before they root deeply.
Prune in summer; maples bleed from spring cuts.

Pro Tip

The seedlings are the real work — pull them in their first spring, when they come up with a single tug rather than a spade.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Check your state's invasive list first ⚠️
Pull seedlings each spring 🌱
Use it where salt and wind defeat other trees 🌊
Prune in summer, not spring ✂️

Don't

Plant it near woodland or open country ❌
Prune it in late winter — it bleeds ❌
Underestimate the seedling load ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Prune
Weed

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Large shade tree where space allowsCoastal and exposed windy sitesUrban and roadside planting

Companion Plants

Daffodil Wood Anemone Hellebore Ivy Epimedium

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Sycamore Maple questions

What zones can Sycamore Maple grow in?

Sycamore Maple is hardy in USDA Zones 4–7. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Sycamore Maple deer resistant?

Yes — Sycamore Maple is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Sycamore Maple bloom?

Sycamore Maple typically blooms in mid spring through mid-spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Sycamore Maple need full sun?

Sycamore Maple does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Sycamore Maple drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Sycamore Maple handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.