# California sycamore (Platanus racemosa)

> A big, fast riparian tree, often with several leaning trunks, mottled white, tan and gray bark, large maple-like leaves and hanging strings of bristly seed balls. Leaves turn gold to orange-red and drop in fall. It is widely planted in parks and gardens for its sculptural trunks and summer shade; anthracnose twists new growth in cool wet springs, and its roots, big leaves and fuzzy fruit make it a messy tree near pavement. Its pollen is allergenic.

Source: https://treerm.org/trees/platanus-racemosa · Updated 2026-11-08 · License CC BY 4.0

## Facts

- Also called: Western sycamore, Aliso
- Family: Platanaceae
- Type: Broadleaf, drops leaves
- Mature height: 22 m; spread 15 m
- Growth: Fast growing
- USDA hardiness zones: 7 to 10
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Moderate water
- Soil: Deep sandy or clay soils of floodplains and stream banks; needs groundwater or regular irrigation
- Native range: California and Baja California along streams, canyons and floodplains from Tehama and Humboldt counties south to San Diego County.

**Benefits:** Shade, Fast canopy, Wildlife, Birds, Pollinators, Flood tolerant, Holds soil

**Good for:** Streambanks, parks, Yard shade

**Watch out for:** Heavy litter, Large roots, Allergenic pollen, Pest prone

## Care

Give it full sun and regular deep watering until established, then about monthly in summer unless it has access to a water table. Prune in winter to develop a strong structure; multi-trunk training is traditional. Anthracnose and the invasive shot hole borer with Fusarium dieback are the main threats; rake and remove infected leaves.

## Where it stands

- **Native:** CA, United States (Native to California riparian areas (and Baja California).)
- **Recommended:** Los Angeles, CA, United States (On the City Plants (Los Angeles) Street Tree Species List); Sacramento, CA, United States (On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list)

## Sources

- https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PLRA
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platanus_racemosa
- https://calscape.org/plant/Platanus-racemosa
- https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/platanus-racemosa