Mexican Sycamore

Mexican Sycamore (Plantanus mexicana) is the prom queen of the tree farm. There are so many reasons to find a spot in your landscape for this beauty.

Even with the long slog of a hot, dry fall, the giant green leaves dance with a second wind energy. But under those leaves is where you find a silver velvet softness that is like some exotic formal dress. When the wind blows, you get a glimpse of green and silver making the tree shimmer a bit and this shimmer gets more impressive as the tree matures.

The giant Mexican Sycamore leaves are the ones you find in a child’s room after a day outside. They are natural treasures that deserve a second look though perhaps not eternal preservation. These are also the leaves that will blanket the ground in the fall. That mess may be a small sacrifice for five feet of growth a year. You can expect the Mexican Sycamore to mature at 50 feet in about 20 to 25 years.

The velvet comes from the trichomes or fine little hairs that add a layer of intelligence to the tree’s pretty face. The trichomes help the Mexican Sycamore reduce water loss and protect it from disease. The result is a drought-tolerant tree suitable in Plant Hardiness Zone 8 and below.