Sycamore

General description

Medium to large deciduous tree less than 35 m tall. Trunk is grey and smooth, becoming rough with age. Leaves are large, palmately lobed, leathery, toothed and borne on reddish stalks. Flowers are small, yellow-green and borne in pendulous, terminal clusters in spring. Seeds are winged and borne in pairs.

What you need to know

Although sycamore is not a legally declared pest plant, it may still be invasive in some situations. Consider lower-risk alternatives for your garden, such as native plants.

Habitats

Open areas, forest, forest and riparian margins, scrub, plantations, wasteland, gardens, roadsides.

Dispersal

Seeds dispersed by wind, gravity and water.

Impact on environment

Can form dense stands, outcompeting and displacing native plants.

Control

Site Management

Always treat standing plants, do not cut down as all stems will coppice. Allow to fully die before felling. Follow up treated areas 3 times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after 2-3 treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.

Recommended approaches

Physical control

Method: Dig out.

Plant parts requiring disposal: All parts.

Disposal options: Remove to greenwaste or landfill.

Biocontrol

Biocontrol is currently not available for this species.

Community agrichemical control recommendations

Certified Handler/Experienced agrichemical user: Drill and inject trees with 10g metsulfuron-methyl per 1L of water if safe to do so. Drill 18mm holes (tangentially angled downwards) in a spiral up the trunk.

For 50mm stems drill one hole. For 100mm stems drill two holes. For larger stems drill holes 150mm apart. Foliar spray seedlings with 5g metsulfuron-methyl per 10L of water and 20ml penetrant.

Safety notes

Large trees must not be drilled that are closer than 1.5 times the height of the tree from paths, walkways and property.

Trees over 4 metres in height should be removed by a qualified arborist.