# western sycamore (*Platanus racemosa*) The western sycamore is a tall tree with big, broad leaves and unique, peeling bark. It grows near rivers and provides shade for animals and people alike. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![western sycamore](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bare_Platanus_racemosa.jpg&width=800) Photo: Downtowngal, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bare_Platanus_racemosa.jpg) ## Appearance The western sycamore has striking camouflage bark, a mottled mix of white, green, and brown, that peels away in irregular patches. Its large, maple-like leaves have deep lobes, and its fruits hang in distinctive fuzzy, globe-shaped clusters. It often grows into a massive, spreading tree. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Proteales - **Family:** Platanaceae - **Genus:** Platanus ## Interesting facts - Even when it's just a stump, a western sycamore can sprout many new trunks! - Its leaves can grow enormous, sometimes wider than your head! - The western sycamore’s bark sheds in big sheets, revealing ghostly white patches underneath! - These trees can live for hundreds of years, becoming giants of the forest! ## Special abilities - **Riverbank Anchor:** Western sycamore has tough, deep roots that allow it to firmly anchor itself, helping it survive powerful floods. - **Mottled Camouflage:** Western sycamore's peeling bark creates a striking pattern, which helps it blend in with the dappled light in forests. - **Seed Spreader:** Western sycamore can disperse its fuzzy seed balls widely, allowing new trees to sprout easily in various spots. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1500-3000 cm - **Spread:** 1000-2000 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Western Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus griseus*) — forages for fallen seeds and nuts. - **Shelter:** [Western Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-bluebird) (*Sialia mexicana*) — nests in its natural tree hollows. - **Shelter:** [Hooded Oriole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hooded-oriole) (*Icterus cucullatus*) — builds hanging nests from its leaves. - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on its young leaves and twigs. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on paths and don't climb too high in trees without an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify western sycamore? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is western sycamore? 1500-3000 cm ### How wide does western sycamore spread? 1000-2000 cm ### When does western sycamore bloom? Spring ### Is western sycamore edible? No ### Is western sycamore toxic? None ### What is western sycamore's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is western sycamore pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Leaning Pine Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leaning-pine-arboretum) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Menlo Avenue-West Twenty-ninth Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/menlo-avenue-west-twenty-ninth-street-historic-district) — California, US · Historic District - [Hellyer County Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hellyer-county-park) — California, US · Park - [Nojoqui Falls County Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nojoqui-falls-county-park) — California, US · Park - [Caswell Memorial State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/caswell-memorial-state-park) — California, US · State Park - [Railtown 1897 State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/railtown-1897-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park [View all places to see western sycamore](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-sycamore) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Western Sycamore: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sycamore)