Acer pseudoplatanus, also known as the sycamore maple, is a fast-growing tree that serves as an excellent windbreak for exposed or coastal areas. It is commonly used in shelterbelt plantings and is widely used as a street tree in Europe due to its handsome dark green leaves. This tree is native to Central Europe and Western Asia, ranging from France to Ukraine, Turkey, and the Caucasus, as well as the mountains of Spain and Italy. It should not be confused with Acer platanoides.
The sycamore maple is easily established from seeds and was introduced to the British Isles by 1500. It has naturalized in various parts of Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, where it can sometimes become an invasive species. With a maximum height of approximately 35 meters (115 feet), the sycamore maple forms a broad, rounded crown. Its bark is initially smooth and gray but becomes rougher with age, flaking in irregular patches.
The leaves of the sycamore maple grow on long leafstalks and are large and palmate, with five large radiating lobes. They are dark green with a paler underside, and some cultivars may have leaves with purple-tinged or yellowish hues. In early summer, the tree produces yellow-green flowers that hang in panicles and attract insects with their copious pollen and nectar. The tree then develops paired winged seeds called samaras, which twirl to the ground when ripe and germinate freely in the following spring.
In its native range, the sycamore maple supports a biodiverse range of invertebrates and fungi, although this may not always be the case in introduced areas. It is commonly planted in urban areas as an amenity tree and is valued for its hard-wearing, creamy-white close-grained timber. This timber is used in the production of musical instruments, furniture, joinery, wood flooring, and kitchen utensils. The sycamore maple also serves as good firewood. In addition, the rising sap in spring can be used to extract sugar and make alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, while bees collect nectar from the tree to produce honey.
With its attractive appearance, adaptability to different environments, and useful timber, the sycamore maple is highly valued and cultivated. It has become naturalized in various regions around the world and has even been associated with notable specimens such as the Tolpuddle Martyrs' Tree, the Corstorphine Sycamore Tree, the Newbattle Abbey sycamore, the Money Tree, and the Sycamore Gap Tree. For more information, please refer to the references provided.
