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Platanus racemosa
Also called California Plane, California Planetree, Californian Plane, Western Sycamore
California sycamore is a large deciduous tree native to California and Baja California, grown in gardens and parks for its shade and attractive mottled bark. Once established it is drought tolerant, though it appreciates some water while young.
Platanus racemosa is a species of plane tree known by several common names, including California sycamore, western sycamore, California plane tree, and in North American Spanish aliso. Platanus racemosa is native to California and Baja California, where it grows in riparian areas, canyons, floodplains, at springs and seeps, and along streams and rivers in several types of habitats. It can be found as far north as Tehama and Humboldt counties.
It is also widely planted horticulturally as a landscape tree in public landscapes and private gardens. While it requires some water, and can be grown in lawns, once established it is drought tolerant. New appreciation for how it shades sun in summer and lets sun through in winter has led to its use in green architecture and sustainable design.
Increased human interference has made P. racemosa more susceptible to cross-breeding with other Platanus species. This hybridization with other species like P. x hispanica offers P. racemosa the advantage of resisting fungal diseases, namely sycamore anthracnose. Interbred California sycamores are less vulnerable to this disease than the original P. racemosa as it harms their wood. However, sycamore anthracnose produces deadwood which creates a habitat for animals like wood ducks. The lack of non-hybridized P. racemosa thus harms the riparian woodlands in which they thrive.
California sycamore wood is extremely hard and difficult to work, but can still be employed to create a variety of items such as buttons, tobacco boxes, furniture, wooden utensils, and barrels. The form and wide canopy of the species make it an effective shade tree. This western sycamore's shade cools the surrounding bodies of water while simultaneously offering a home for some animals in the humid environment in which it flourishes. The Native Tongva people call the tree Shavar, and teas prepared from its bark were traditionally used as a blood tonic, a remedy for asthma, and an aid during childbirth.
Platanus mexicana · American sycamore · Oriental Plane · Arizona sycamore · Plane
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Platanus racemosa by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
