Low riskNot food
American sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
The white-boned giant of Laughery Creek. Mottled bark, maple-like leaves, hanging seed balls.
- Marks
- White upper bark; seed balls; hollow old trunks
- Size
- 80–120 ft
- Habitat
- Creek banks and Ohio River bottoms. The signature tree of Dillsboro hollows.
- Season
- Year-round ID by bark.
- Frequency
- abundant
Massive trunk with bark that peels to cream, olive, and brown puzzle pieces. Leaves are broad and lobed. Fruit is a single dangling ball.
Uses
Butcher blocks, crates. Old hollow trunks are raccoon dens. Poor firewood — it’s wet and doesn’t split kindly.