Mexican Sycamore

Full sun. Deciduous with broad silver-bottomed leaves and pale peeling trunks for a striking black-and-white effect. A good shade tree probably more drought tolerant than its American cousin. Mexican sycamore is very fast growing though not famously long lived.

Pruning is always optional. Cuts should only be made at a bud or branch; in general, focus on minimizing dead damaged or rubbing branches. As with any tree remove no more than 25% of the total canopy during any five-year cycle. To maintain a healthy specimen leave the upper 2/3 of the trees height uncut and never remove more than the lowest third of the tree in a single pruning period — for example on a 12-foot tree stick to the lowest 4 feet.

Mulch with about 2 of woodchips or pine bark wherever possible. (In general, a tree’s mulched area should be six feet at minimum).