With its furious autumn colors in bright yellow-orange, the sycamore gives the golden October a special shine. A colorful array of other special features distinguishes the Rübezahl from the maple species. Immerse yourself in the wondrous world of an imposing character that is described in a profile.
Sycamore leaves have five lobes
Characteristic features in brief - profile in detail
The sycamore maple is a familiar sight to hikers in the low mountain ranges and Alps, because the mighty tree is very fond of cool, damp climates. Hills, ravine forests and lowlands are shared with beech, ash, elm and other deciduous trees. Its magnificent shape prompts garden architects and private park owners to settle the sycamore maple. It is therefore not surprising that it is the most common maple species in Central Europe. The following profile summarizes further special features:
- Name: Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)
- Family: Horse chestnut family (Hippocastanoideae)
- Growth: A deciduous tree with a rounded crown and upright branches
- Height: 15 to 30 m, rarely up to 40 m
- Crown width: 10 to 15 m, rarely up to 20 m
- Trunk diameter: 100 to 200 cm
- Annual growth: 40 to 80 cm
- Leaf shape: five-lobed, dark green, grey-green underneath, 16-20 cm long, serrate leaf margin
- Flowers: inconspicuous yellow-green panicles in May
- Fruits: winged nutlets with tiny propellers
- Age: 400 to 500 years
The special beauty of its yellow-green spring blossoms does not lie in their aesthetic effect. Rather, it is its magical attraction to butterflies, bumblebees, beetles and other insects that makes the sycamore an ecological jewel. Wild bee species that have become rare, such as the red-furred sand bee or the horned mason bee, feast on the nectar.
Poisonous Seeds
One of the negative features is the poison content of the seeds. When the winged nutlets soar through the air with their propellers, the alarm goes off, especially among horse owners. The seeds contain a toxin that is fatal to horses and donkeys even in small amounts. Scientists assume that people are not immune to harmful consequences after consumption.
No symbiosis with fungi
In contrast to numerous other tree species, a sycamore maple does not enter into a symbiosis with fungi with the aim of improving the supply of nutrients. Instead, an Acer pseudoplatanus provides enough fertilizer with its leaves on its own. One of the special features of its leaves is that they quickly turn into valuable humus after the leaves have fallen.
Tree of the year 2009
Every year in October, under the patronage of the current Federal Minister for the Environment in Germany, a tree species is chosen as "Tree of the Year". After the Norway maple made the start among the maple species in 1995, the sycamore maple continued the honorable list in 2009, followed by the field maple in 2015.
The aim of this honor is to draw people's attention to the special features of the respective title holder. Important criteria for selection are the degree of threat, rarity and ecological importance.
tips
We shouldn't tackle a natural beauty like the sycamore maple with scissors and saws. If an extensive pruning proves to be unavoidable, the time window is open from October to December. Cut back individual shoots in June/July when the flow of sap has stopped.