Sycamore

Where it grows

The European sycamore — not to be confused with the American sycamore, which is a plane tree — is native to central and southern Europe and southwest Asia, ranging into the Caucasus. It has been widely planted across Britain since the 1500s and is naturalised there, where it tolerates salt-laden coastal winds better than most large hardwoods.

How to recognise it

A broad-domed tree with greyish bark that flakes in irregular plates with age. The five-lobed leaves are large, dark green above, paler below, and unevenly toothed. Drooping yellow-green flower racemes appear with the leaves in spring, followed by paired winged samaras that twirl down like helicopters.

Uses

Sycamore wood is creamy white, even-grained, and stains well. It is widely used for kitchen worktops, butcher blocks, dance floors, and the necks of violins. Figured sycamore (fiddleback maple) is especially prized for the backs and sides of stringed instruments.

Ecology

Sycamore supports fewer insect species than native British oaks but is a major nectar and pollen source for honeybees in spring, and its dense canopy provides good cover for woodland birds.