Platanus racemosa - Western Sycamore

Description

Native to watercourses, this stately tree can reach up to 75' and has beautiful leaning trunks of smooth mottled cream-colored bark. Will take hot sun and wind as long as its feet are near a permanent source of water. Can be used as a specimen or in parks where summer shade from its big leaves is desirable. Not for tidy gardens since it drops its leaves and bark year round. It can be found in canyon bottoms and streams below 4000' from central California to northern Baja.