Common Trees of Pennsylvania

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Guide to the Common Trees of Pennsylvania

Trees | Glossary | Visual Guide | Leaf Parts, Types, & Position

Sycamore
(Wide & Flat: Alternate Arrangement)

Large, massive trees typically found on streambanks and floodplains attaining heights of 70'-125' or more. Also called Buttonwood or American planetree, the wood is used for furniture, butcher blocks and flooring. The London planetree, P. x acerifolia Willd., with 2-4 fruits per stalk, is commonly planted as a shade tree in urban areas.

Platanus occidentalis L.
enlarge

Leaves

Alternate, simple, sharp-pointed at the tip and toothed on the margins; smooth on both upper and lower sides, 6"-11" long.

Twigs

At first green and hairy, later brownish, smooth, zigzag, buds cone-like with a single, smooth reddish brown scale.

Fruit

A round, light brown ball 1"-1¼" in diameter, made up of many seeds surrounded by silky hairs, hanging singly or in pairs by a tough, slender stalk throughout the winter.

Bark

Consists of two layers, the outer peeling in brown flakes, the inner whitish, yellowish or greenish, the base of old trunks dark brown and fissured.

Select a Tree from a menu below, or download the Visual Guide

Needle-Shaped or Linear
Wide & Flat: Opposite Arrangement	Wide and Flat: Alternate Arrangement
Information courtesy of: PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources

Whitetailed Deer
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