Bloodgood London Planetree (Sycamore)

While “Planetree” isn’t exactly a household word, you may be familiar with the mighty American Sycamore, a parent of the excellent hybrid tree known as Bloodgood London Planetree (or London Plane Tree). Except to the nerdiest of tree nerds, the two plants look identical: Sycamore and Planetree are both large shade trees with massive limbs, big leaves, and fantastic flaky bark in a crazy-quilt pattern of khaki, gray, and ivory. Bloodgood London Planetree is a majestic, fast-growing tree for lining your driveway, creating a park-like atmosphere in your yard, or just providing some shade for a picnic table or patio. Give this legacy tree a roomy spot where it can live out the long, full life it is destined for.

In 1792, the rules for buying and selling bonds and shares in companies began beneath a Sycamore tree or what was then referred to as a Buttonwood tree (fun fact: its wood was used for making buttons!). Twenty-four of New York’s leading merchants came together under their favorite Buttonwood Tree at 68 Wall Street where they drafted and signed “The Buttonwood Agreement”. This agreement stated that the stockbrokers were to only deal with each other laying the foundation for what has become the New York Stock Exchange. The Buttonwood Tree remained on Wall Street another 70+ years until it fell over during a storm. The loss was treated like a death in the family all across the country.

If you need a large specimen tree, then this is the tree for you! A fast growing tree that displays some of the best looking bark you'll ever see. The bark is patchy with colors ranging from creamy white to olive green. Large sections of the bark usually shed from the tree as it matures. The foliage is usually a dark green throughout spring and summer but changes to yellow in fall. Just a wonderful tree to use as a specimen, shade, or street tree.