Virginia Tech Dendrology

sycamore maple Aceraceae Acer pseudoplatanus L. symbol: ACPS
Leaf: Opposite, simple, 5 lobed, 5 to 6 inches long and broad, palmately-veined, coarsely serrate, heart-shaped base, dark green above and considerably paler below.
Flower: Species is monoecious; yellow, in a 3 to 5 inch hanging cluster.
Fruit: Pair of samaras, spreading at about a 45 degree angle, each about 1 1/2 inch long, mature in late summer to early fall.
Twig: Moderate to stout, glabrous, greenish brown, leaf scars do not meet; buds are large and broad, green, with large scales.
Bark: Gray-brown to red-brown, breaks up into large scales that often exfoliate to reveal orange.
Form: Medium sized tree (60 to 70 feet tall), usually with a wide-spreading crown and short trunk.
Looks like: Rocky Mountain maple - red maple - mountain maple

Additional Range Information: Acer pseudoplatanus is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database - Horticulture Information
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information