American sycamore

American Sycamore
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Proteales Family Platanaceae Genus Platanus Species occidentalis
Binomial name
Platanus occidentalis

The American sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, is one of the species of Platanus native to North America, where it is generally just called Sycamore or sometimes Buttonwood. It is sometimes called the Occidental Plane or American plane in Europe.

The sycamore forms a massive tree, typically reaching up to 30 metres high. In its native range, it is often found in riparian and wetland areas. The range includes Maine, Ontario, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and northeastern Mexico. It has become naturalised in some places outside its native range.

As a cultivated tree, it is susceptible to anthracnose disease, and so it is not often grown, the more resistant London plane being preferred instead. It is sometimes grown for timber.

The name sycamore can refer to other types of tree outside North America.