Sycamore - Acer pseudoplatanus

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Description

Large spreading tree to 30 metres. Leaves large, 10 to 25 cm across, palmately 5 to 7 lobed, the lobes pointed and coarsely toothed. Flowers yellowish green, 6 to 7 mm in narrow pendant panicles usually borne with the leaves. Fruit with wings at right angles.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Hedgerows, roadsides, woods.

When to see it

April and May.

Life History

Deciduous.

UK Status

Naturalised and common throughout just about the whole of Britain.

VC55 Status

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 546 of the 617 tetrads.

  • Craig Mabbett
    Lutterworth Land Near Aldi
    12 June 2022
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    20 April 2009
    Flowers and leaves
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    13 April 2008
    Buds
  • David Nicholls
    Thornton Reservoir
    05 June 2012
    young seeds (keys)
  • David Nicholls
    Leicester, Abbey Park
    20 January 2023
  • Graham Calow
    A5 near High Cross
    22 August 2016
    winged seeds

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Sycamore
Species group:
Trees, Shrubs & Climbers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Sapindales
Family:
Sapindaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
431
First record:
01/01/1979 (Patricia Evans)
Last record:
25/04/2025 (Higgott, Mike)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

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Latest images

Latest records

  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    03 August 2007
    Seeds
  • David Nicholls
    Thornton Reservoir
    27 April 2013
  • David Nicholls
    Gilroes Cemetery
    06 May 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Sheet Hedges Wood
    02 May 2014
  • egaten
    Shenton Station
    31 October 2019
  • David Nicholls
    Thornton Reservoir
    27 April 2013
  • egaten
    Beacon Hill Country Park
    01 September 2021
  • Graham Calow
    Cambridge Road, Cosby
    15 May 2016
  • David Nicholls
    Piper Wood, Shepshed
    15 April 2023
  • Mike Higgott
    Loughborough University
    18 July 2023