Plantanus occidentalis, more commonly known as the sycamore, is a deciduous tree native to North America. Since its bark is rigid and incapable of expansion, as the sycamore grows, older bark peels away, giving the tree its characteristic rough appearance.

Sycamores are often used as shade trees although they are sensitive to ozone damage, fungal growth, and insect infestation. Sycamore blight is a fungus-initiated disease, which is accelerated by extended cool, wet periods. Although rarely capable of killing trees, blight seriously impairs the appearance of sycamores. The sycamore lace bug lays its eggs on the underside of sycamore leaves, where they develop and feed through their many life stages, further damaging the beauty of the trees.

Beneficial to both humans and animals, sycamores serve a variety of purposes. Various birds, such as the goldfinch and the dark-eyed junco, as well as muskrats, squirrels, and beavers, eat their seeds. Moreover, as sycamores age, their trunks tend to hollow, providing shelter for many forms of wildlife, sometimes becoming large enough to house black bears. Humans, however, use the hardwood for boxes, furniture, trim, fuel and particleboard.