Sycamore Tree

A light yellow dye was made from the bark and a golden dye was made from the leaves. The sycamore is also known as the buttonwood because the wood is hard to split and it was once used to make buttons. The wood is used to make butcher blocks, pallets, crates, and stringed instruments.

Native to the eastern half of the United States, the American Sycamore typically finds its home in creek bottoms and other floodplains. Known for its large leaves, wide branches, and thick trunks, the sycamore also typically sheds its rigid mottled bark as it grows and its limbs also break easily. Its harder wood makes for poor firewood, but the sycamore has been well harvested for butcher blocks and clothing buttons, the latter earning it the nickname "buttonwood." As it grows, its thick trunk is often hollow, and as gaps form in its limbs can often become home to birds and other animals.

Branches In Time: Notable and Historic Trees of Old Washington Historic State Park. Little Rock, AR. Arkansas State Parks.