sycamore

Acer pseudoplatanus

• Magnificent domed canopy
   
• Up to 35m high
   
• Smooth grey-brown bark when young becoming scaly and flaky with maturity
   
• Stout twigs with fat, green buds
   
• Leaves are large, maple-leaf shape, with five pointed lobes
   
• Flowers hang in long, spiky clusters

Autumn colours not as spectacular as field maple
 
The paired, winged fruit (keys) are green tinged with red and ripen to brown
 

Where found

One of our commonest and most widespread trees, found almost everywhere
 

When to look for

• Leaves appear from April-May
    
• Leaves drop in November
   

Did you know?

The sycamore tree is not native to the British Isles - it came from central and south-east Europe

It is thought to have been introduced some time between the Roman occupation and the 16th century, and has become established strongly only over the last 200 years

Sycamore has a significant ecological role as it supports huge numbers of aphids, which provide a  important food source for wildlife

It is one of the fastest growing broad-leaved trees in the UK

Some sycamore trees develop a wavy-grained timber, which is prized for making musical instruments and producing veneer

The flowers produce abundant nectar, which makes a fragrant, delicately scented and pale-coloured honey