How to Plant Sycamore Tree Seeds

Co-authored by Maggie Moran

Last Updated: November 21, 2022

Sycamore trees grow for decades and reach towering heights, offering shade and beauty to your lawn. Sycamore seeds can be collected for planting from sycamore trees or bought at a nursery or garden center. The most important thing is to start growing them in a tray for a few months. Then, transfer them to a pot for a year or two before planting them in the ground.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Nurturing the Seeds

1
Plant the seeds in a shallow tray. Sycamore seeds grow best when you start them in a tray and then transfer them to a pot. Choose a shallow growing tray, but one that’s deep enough to let the seed take root. The plant will grow to about 4 inches (10 cm) in the first 2 months.^{[1]
X
Research source}
2
Bury the seeds about 0.125 inches (0.32 cm) deep. With the shallow tray filled with good, seed-starting soil, make a hole that’s no deeper than 0.125 inches (0.32 cm). This isn’t much, so if you have a ruler handy, it will be easier to tell. It may be easier to just push the seed slightly into the soil rather than making a hole first.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Potting soil works well, but also look at the garden store for soil that specifically says it is for starting seeds. To make a rich soil mix, combine some potting soil with some soil from the planting site.
Advertisement
3
Cover the seed with coarse sand, peat moss, or leaf mold. The seed will grow best if it’s covered with something richer than soil. Coarse sand is the best option. Peat moss and leaf mold also have great nutrients for a sycamore seed. Make sure you don’t use too much or it will choke out the seed.^{[3]
X
Research source}
4
Set the tray in indirect sunlight. Sycamore seeds soak up a lot of sunlight when they are beginning to sprout. Place the tray somewhere that stays between 70 °F (21 °C) to 85 °F (29 °C). Make sure there is sunlight but that the tray is not in direct sunlight for very long.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- It’s best to keep the seed tray inside so that it doesn’t get soaked during heavy rains.
5
Water the soil as needed to keep it moist. You don’t necessarily have to water the seedlings every single day. Check the soil each day and it if seems to have lost moisture, water it. Water the soil just enough to moisten it, not to soak it through.
- A simple soil test is to stick your fingers into the soil. If you can press your fingers into the soil up to your knuckle and the soil feels moist, there’s enough water in the soil.
6
Move the tree to a pot when it reaches 4 inches (10 cm) in height. After a couple of months, the sycamore should be at about 4 inches (10 cm) in height. It should have a solid root system and leaves by this point. Transfer it from the shallow tray into a deeper pot with good drainage.^{[5]
X
Research source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Transferring Saplings into the Ground

1
Let the sapling grow 2 feet (0.61 m) to 4 feet (1.2 m) before planting it. Sycamores are fast growing trees, but they take about a year to reach 2 feet (0.61 m) tall. It’s best to keep the sycamore in a pot for that much time. You may need to transfer it to bigger pot if it seems to become rootbound.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Rootbound means that the roots have grown so much that they’ve filled the pot. Gently pull the sapling, along with its roots, out of the pot every 2 months to check that there is plenty of soil left in the pot.
2
Plant the seedling at least 15 feet (4.6 m) from your house. Sycamores grow tall, have a wide canopy, and grow an extensive root system. Because of this, you want to plant them far away from your house and other structures. 15 feet (4.6 m) is a good distance, but if you have the room, plant it even farther away.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Consider sidewalks, sheds, barns, or other structures that the roots could grow under and harm. in its first year, and it can grow 24 inches (61 cm) per year after that.”|}}
3
Choose a spot that gets 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Sycamore trees want to soak up the sun, so make sure you pick a wide open spot. If you already have a lot of trees, place the sycamore away from the rest.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Spend a week or so watching your yard to see what parts get the most sun. Sycamore trees grow for decades, so you want to make sure it will continue to get sun as it grows tall.
4
Supplement the water supply for your tree during the first summer. You will need to supply the tree with at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) every 3 to 4 days. You can stop all supplemental watering once the rainy season begins.

Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

Question

How many years does it take for a sycamore tree to grow?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

The sycamore is a tree that lives nearly 400 years and it is a fast-growing tree. It can grow 24 inches in 1 year, and a seedling will reach a height of 10 feet in its first year.
Question

What kind of tree drops helicopter seeds?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

There are several types of trees that produce these winged seeds. Field Maple, Ash, Sycamore, and Norway Maples are all known to disperse seeds like these.
Question

Do sycamore trees produce nuts?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

No, they do not create nuts. However, they do produce a type of sycamore seed ball.