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Botanical name: Platanus mexicana
A fast growing and drought hardy relative of the American Sycamore; interesting large leaves and beautiful silvery mottled bark; a great shade tree for larger landscapes; quite resistant to disease and insects.
Other names: Platanus mexicanus, Planetree, Buttonwood
| Hardiness zone | 6b |
|---|---|
| Foliage type | deciduous * |
| Plant form | upright spreading |
| Mature height | 60 feet |
| Spread | 40 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun |
| Moisture requirements | average to moist |
| Plant origin | import |
* deciduous = loses leaves in winter
Mexican Sycamore has green foliage with silver undersides throughout the season. The large serrated lobed leaves turn coppery-bronze in fall. Neither the flowers nor the fruit are ornamentally significant. The mottled silver bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.
Mexican Sycamore is a multi-stemmed deciduous tree with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.
This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting squirrels to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Mexican Sycamore is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Shade
Mexican Sycamore will grow to be about 60 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 40 feet. It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of 6 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.
This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.
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