Platanus wrightii
Arizona sycamore
Southwestern United States and northern Mexico
Native to North America
Overview
Platanus wrightii is a large deciduous tree reaching 50 to 80 feet (15 to 24 m) tall with a broad, open crown and often several leaning or forking trunks. The bark flakes away in thin plates to reveal a mottled patchwork of white, gray, and pale tan on the upper trunk and limbs. Palmately lobed leaves measure 6 to 9 inches (15 to 23 cm) across, with 3 to 7 deep, pointed lobes and a thin, light green blade that turns dull brown in autumn. In spring the tree bears tiny flowers in dense spherical heads; female heads mature into hanging strings of 2 to 4 bristly seed balls about 1 inch (2.5 cm) across that break apart over winter. Native to streamsides and canyon bottoms of the desert Southwest, it draws on a high, year-round water table and declines away from moist ground. The shallow, wide roots can lift pavement and invade drains, and the large leaves and shedding bark create steady litter. It casts heavy summer shade and grows quickly where water is plentiful. Anthracnose can blight the new leaves in wet springs.
Native Range
Native to central and southern Arizona, western New Mexico, and adjacent northern Mexico. It grows along permanent and intermittent streams, springs, and canyon bottoms in desert and foothill country.Suggested Uses
Used as a large shade tree along streams, in parks, and in riparian restoration across the Southwest. It supplies nesting sites and cavities used by birds and other wildlife. Its size and water needs suit large, moist sites rather than small or dry yards.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height50' - 80'
Width/Spread40' - 60'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in spring, generally March through April as the leaves expand. The tiny flowers cluster in dense spherical heads, with separate male and female heads on the same tree. Female heads ripen through summer into hanging strings of bristly seed balls. These break apart and release seed over the following winter.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
light greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun with access to deep, consistently moist soil or a high water table. Platanus wrightii accepts loam, sand, or rocky alluvium with a pH from 6.5 to 8.0 and tolerates periodic flooding. It needs plentiful water and declines in dry, unirrigated desert sites away from streams. The tree is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10. Give it wide spacing, since the spreading roots and broad crown need room and can damage nearby paving. Anthracnose may disfigure foliage in cool, wet springs but rarely threatens the tree.Pruning
Prune in late winter while dormant to remove dead, crossing, or weak limbs and to raise the canopy. Young trees can be trained to a single leader or left multi-trunked. Remove storm-broken wood promptly to limit decay. Severe topping eliminates the natural crown and forces weak watersprout regrowth.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter