Sycamore maple
Acer pseudoplatanus, family Sapindaceae
A tall European maple with greenish-yellow flower clusters and winged seeds
The sycamore maple is a large deciduous tree from central Europe and western Asia. It bears greenish-yellow flowers in dangling clusters, followed by paired winged seeds that spin as they fall.
- Flowers hang in long, drooping clusters of 60–100 blooms
- Winged seeds spin like helicopters when falling
- Produces creamy-white timber used for violins and furniture
- Considered invasive in New Zealand, Norway and parts of Australia
- Each cell holds four sets of chromosomes (tetraploid)
What does Sycamore maple look like?
This tall deciduous tree reaches up to 35 metres with a broad, rounded crown. Its bark starts smooth and grey, later flaking to reveal pinkish patches underneath. Leaves are large, palmate with five pointed lobes, dark green above and paler below. In early summer it carries hanging clusters of greenish-yellow flowers, followed by paired winged seeds that rotate as they fall.
Where does Sycamore maple come from?
Native across central Europe into western Asia, the sycamore maple likely reached Britain by 1500, possibly earlier in Scotland. Though once thought absent before the Tudor era, an old Gaelic name hints at earlier presence. It has since spread widely through Europe and been introduced to North America, Australia, New Zealand and parts of South America.
When and how Sycamore maple blooms
It flowers in early summer after the leaves emerge, producing pendulous panicles with dozens of small greenish-yellow blooms. Each flower can make nectar and pollen, with female-functioning ones offering more sugar-rich nectar. Seeds mature over four months, ripening in autumn as paired samaras whose wings allow wind dispersal.
How Sycamore maple is used
People plant it as an ornamental tree in towns and gardens. Its hard, pale timber serves for furniture, flooring, kitchenware and musical instruments. In spring, sap is tapped for syrup or drinks similar to those from sugar maple. Bees gather its nectar for honey, and it supports various moth larvae in its native range.
Kinds of Sycamore maple
Many named varieties once existed, such as those with larger fruits, hairy leaves or red-tinged foliage, but all are now treated as part of the single species Acer pseudoplatanus. It readily hybridises with other maples where ranges overlap, sometimes producing leaves with fewer lobes.
What Sycamore maple means
Though not tied to specific festivals or faiths, it has become naturalised across much of Britain and Ireland, appearing in most local survey grids. Outside its native zone it may act as an invasive, outcompeting local plants in places like New Zealand, Norway and parts of Australia.
Questions people ask about Sycamore maple
Where does the sycamore maple come from?
It is native to central Europe and western Asia, including countries like France, Germany, Italy and the Balkans.
What do its flowers look like?
They are small, greenish-yellow and grow in dangling clusters called panicles, appearing after the leaves in early summer.
Is it used for anything practical?
Yes, it yields hard pale wood for furniture and instruments, and its spring sap can be made into syrup or drinks.
Why is it considered a problem in some places?
It spreads easily by seed and can outcompete native plants, so it’s classed as invasive in New Zealand, Norway and parts of Australia.
How are its seeds dispersed?
The paired winged seeds, called samaras, spin as they fall, letting the wind carry them away from the parent tree.
Good reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- Horse chestnut scale: Identification & ControlRoyal Horticultural Society, Article
- Tolpuddle Martyrs village tree pruning carried outBBC, Article
- Hadrian's WallNational Trust, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Acer pseudoplatanus on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Acer pseudoplatanus", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryPhool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.
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