Sycamore

Curly green finger's · Mar 7, 2020

Hi I've grown the sycamore in the picture from seed. it is now 6 years old.

Im wondering how long it could be before it flowers, and when in flower what temps, weather conditions, time of day it produces
Nectar.
Any experiences with flows over the years that you have had.
Cheers

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SDM · Mar 7, 2020

15-20 years

Erichalfbee · Mar 7, 2020

I have old mature sycamores all over the farmland around here. I can’t help with age at first flowering but I have seen flowers on trees about twice your size ( but not many)
Leaves come out first and the flowers are in the axils if those emerging April/May
It is a prolific nectar source if the flowers survive any late gales and frosts.

SDM · Mar 7, 2020

They are about 30yrs old by the time they flower heavily.
I'd have gone with field maple rather than the non native sycamore.

Curly green finger's · Mar 7, 2020

SDM said:
They are about 30yrs old by the time they flower heavily.

I'd have gone with field maple rather than the non native sycamore.

There's lots of maple up here already.

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Millet · Mar 8, 2020

I have read somewhere it is around 15yrs and also around the time when Grey squirrels stop stripping the bark from them..

Goran · Mar 13, 2020

There is no better than black locust - false acacia tree. I don't know is it invasive at your place or does it offer nectar in your place.. At my place grows fast, flowers after few years, spread fast, when weather behave and bees right inflow per day may come more than 10kg per day. Some even claimed in nice seasons up to 18kg. I think some official data gives that around 1000kg of honey of potential forage per 1ha of black locust forest.
Since it grows fast, doesn't last long at our place. Chop it whenever you need - firewood, posts, etc..
Since it grows usually straight - good for fence posts. In fact around our property is fence over 1km with these posts.
Sycamore bees attend but isn't considered some significant forage - it is blooming short.

Curly green finger's · Mar 13, 2020

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAbegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw0pesVCTAJeAfHzQjhz2mvO

Hi goran
I found this link.. I've only ever seen them as ornimentals or specimen tree's in gardens in the UK.
I've never used them as part of a planting plan/design. It looks like you can buy them so theres people growing them here.

How frost tender are they?

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Murox · Mar 13, 2020

Curly green finger's said:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAbegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw0pesVCTAJeAfHzQjhz2mvO

Hi goran
I found this link.. I've only ever seen them as ornimentals or specimen tree's in gardens in the UK.
I've never used them as part of a planting plan/design. It looks like you can buy them so theres people growing them here.

How frost tender are they?

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I planted a (2-3yr old) sapling in 2016 150m above sea level, somewhat 'protected' from prevailing storms by other shrubs. Have not checked it this year yet was fine last year. Have to say frost is usually very light hear, but the altitude delays "spring' here by around 3 weeks. eg daffs are flowering at sea level but still tight buds up there.

Goran · Mar 13, 2020

Curly green finger's said:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAbegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw0pesVCTAJeAfHzQjhz2mvO

Hi goran
I found this link.. I've only ever seen them as ornimentals or specimen tree's in gardens in the UK.
I've never used them as part of a planting plan/design. It looks like you can buy them so theres people growing them here.

How frost tender are they?

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They first flower, later release the leaves. So if it start to open flower buds ( usually in April at my place) and frost occur - it will damage the buds. Due to that is catchy, but in potential of forage risk worthy.. In fact my main forage is black locust. The rest is less yielding and less marketed. All are after black locust.. Especially good is cause for years it can stay without crystallization ( I had more than 2 years liquid black locust honey).

Ian123 · Mar 13, 2020

I remember about 35 years ago an old beek showing me an established false acacia in his garden still 1 of the largest I’ve seen to date. He reported bees swarming over it 1 time. Also shortly after that my mum brought a couple of ornamental types for garden. Since that time huge amounts have sprung up in my areas in hedgerows woods and road verges. I’ve seen plenty of bees work it and a couple of years think there’s been a surplus. It often flowers around early part of late may/June gap. It’s main issue is flowers are very delicate and needs some decent temps to yield so most years it’s destroyed by rain/wind.

Goran · Mar 13, 2020

Ian123 said:
I remember about 35 years ago an old beek showing me an established false acacia in his garden still 1 of the largest I’ve seen to date. He reported bees swarming over it 1 time. Also shortly after that my mum brought a couple of ornamental types for garden. Since that time huge amounts have sprung up in my areas in hedgerows woods and road verges. I’ve seen plenty of bees work it and a couple of years think there’s been a surplus. It often flowers around early part of late may/June gap. It’s main issue is flowers are very delicate and needs some decent temps to yield so most years it’s destroyed by rain/wind.

I forgot your rainy weather.. But recently we have rainy May similar to UK, and that ends forage.. These climate changes struck really bad..

Curly green finger's · May 17, 2020

So my sycamore is looking lovely it's only a young un!

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pargyle · May 17, 2020

Curly green finger's said:
So my sycamore is looking lovely it's only a young un!

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I hope you like digging up baby sycamore trees ! We have huge ones in each of our neighbours gardens ... we get thousands of them springing up everywhere each spring .. they even germinate in the compost bin ... relentless !

As for the leaves ... pain in the proverbial in the autumn.. if you don't get them up quickly they smother anything they land on.

Dig it up whilst you have the chance and plant something the bees can use in less than 20 years ... Cherry tree perhaps ?

Curly green finger's · May 17, 2020

pargyle said:
I hope you like digging up baby sycamore trees ! We have huge ones in each of our neighbours gardens ... we get thousands of them springing up everywhere each spring .. they even germinate in the compost bin ... relentless !

As for the leaves ... pain in the proverbial in the autumn.. if you don't get them up quickly they smother anything they land on.

Dig it up whilst you have the chance and plant something the bees can use in less than 20 years ... Cherry tree perhaps ?

Nope Ill leave it where it be! this is out in our field, I've also planted pear apple damson slows maple harwthorne cherry.
There will be seedlings from a lot of what I've planted. They will get dug up and planted else where and I'll maybe use the wood for different things.

I couldn't dig them up they are like my children I've grown some of them from seed or cuttings

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pargyle · May 17, 2020

Curly green finger's said:
Nope Ill leave it where it be! this is out in our field, I've also planted pear apple damson slows maple harwthorne cherry.
There will be seedlings from a lot of what I've planted. They will get dug up and planted else where and I'll maybe use the wood for different things.

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It's a weed ... dig it up. Only thing sycamore is good for is wood turning very bland bowls that you have to colour to make interesting !

https://www.flickr.com/photos/99514363@N06/9401238557/in/album-72157634859172619/

Curly green finger's · May 18, 2020

pargyle said:
It's a weed ... dig it up. Only thing sycamore is good for is wood turning very bland bowls that you have to colour to make interesting !

https://www.flickr.com/photos/99514363@N06/9401238557/in/album-72157634859172619/

Funny Philip, that's the blandest bowl I've ever seen.
Do you make bowls to clients specs or design?
I'm looking for some little guys table and chairs and some signs made up to go on the outside of there Wendy house.

You made this beek smile at 215am..

pargyle · May 18, 2020

Curly green finger's said:
Funny Philip, that's the blandest bowl I've ever seen.
Do you make bowls to clients specs or design?
I'm looking for some little guys table and chairs and some signs made up to go on the outside of there Wendy house.

You made this beek smile at 215am..

I will turn anything ... mostly for my own entertainment..as I make so many mistakes what it was intended to be when I set out is rarely what it ends up at the end ... i tend to specialise in matchsticks and smoker fuel ! Always game to have a go though ! Philip

jenkinsbrynmair · May 18, 2020

pargyle said:
It's a weed ... dig it up.

Erichalfbee · May 18, 2020

A weed?
Don’t anybody’s bees use it?
The sycamores around here sound as if they are taking off when they are in bloom.

Sycamore

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