Acer pseudoplatanus
Common name: 
Planetree Maple
Sycamore Maple
Pronunciation: 
A-ser soo-do-PLAT-an-us
Family: 
Sapindaceae, Aceraceae
Genus: 
Acer
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous tree, 40-60 ft (12-18 m), upright, spreading branches, oval crown, bark similar to that of a sycamore (flaking in small rectangular scales).  Leaves opposite, simple, 7.5-15 cm wide, 3-5 lobed, coarsely crenate-serrate, dark green and glabrous above, greenish-white below.  Fall color yellowish to dingy brown.  Flowers small, yellow-green, in 8-12 cm long pendulous, clusters (racemes), appear after leaves.  Fruit (samara) 3-5 cm long, forming an angle of about 60°, in pendulous clusters.  Buds similar to those of Acer platanoides, Norway Maple.
  • Sun to light shade, best on well-drained soil, tolerates alkaline to acid soil conditions, sensitive to heat, good near the sea shore, a salt tolerant species.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 4          Native to Europe and western Asia
  • Caution: In some areas Acer pseudoplatanus is considered an invasive species and a threat to native plants.  It is a troublesome plant in parts of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and New England.
  • Several selections available, including:
    • ‘Atropurpureum’   -  leaves dark green above, purple beneath
    • ‘Brilliantissimum’  -  new leaves brilliant shrimp-pink, later pale yellow-green, then light to medium green
    • ‘Eck Sunset’  -  new leaves orange-pink, later dark green splashed with cream, tan and pink
    • ‘Nizetii’  -  new leaves variegated, blotched and streaked with pink, red and orange, later yellow-green
  • pseudoplatanus:  pseudo, false;   platanus, a reference to Platanus, Sycamore, hence a "false sycamore", meaning visually similar to a Platanus.
  • Corvallis: north side 127 NW 13th St.
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: west side of Oxford House on Jefferson Ave.
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    leaves and fruit clusters

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    leaf and fruit

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  • leaves and fruit

    leaves and fruit

  • plant habit, fall

    plant habit, fall

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    leaves, fall

  • leaves and fruit, fall

    leaves and fruit, fall

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  • winter twigs, buds

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