Sycamore vs Sweet Gum

[Allen Neighbors]

Is it normal for some people to mistake Sweet Gum for Sycamore?
Does Sweet Gum grow the little spiney balls like Sycamore?

[rob mason]

The leaves alone are a dead giveaway: Sycamore leaves are larger - more like hubcap size.

I have also noticed that sweet gum balls are usually dark brown and extremely spiney, whereas the sycamore balls are usually green-ish.

[Bill Barou]

Sweet Gum and Sycamore have very different fruit. Both are ball-shaped and about the same size but Sweet Gum's are spiney while Sycamore's are not. The bark is also different; sycamore is usually peeling and mottled. Sweet Gum has furrows running vertically. Watch the Sweet Gum in the fall; get red color and the leaves stay on for a long time.

[David Epperson]

Is it normal for some people to mistake Sweet Gum for Sycamore?
Does Sweet Gum grow the little spiney balls like Sycamore?So basically ,no,it's not really "normal" to get the two confused.

[Nathan Hawkes]

The leaves alone are a dead giveaway: Sycamore leaves are larger - more like hubcap size.

I have also noticed that sweet gum balls are usually dark brown and extremely spiney, whereas the sycamore balls are usually green-ish.


This is true during most of the growing season, but sycamore seed balls will get a wheat brown color when they "ripen" or dry out, in the fall. They will kind of fall apart similar to how a dandelion puffball does when they are really dry. You might not see this unless you pick them up between your fingers.

[James Ashburn]

I'm not too far from you being between Denton and Ft. Worth. They are very clearly different here. Bark is completely different and a dead giveaway.

[Allen Neighbors]

Thanks, everyone. I guess I've been the dummy. I now know that what I have now is not sycamore. Funny that the bark wasn't all that different, but it didn't have the peeling bark that I thought it should.
Thanks for posting. Good forum!

[RL Johnson]

Sweet Gum is also more of a moderate sized tree and if growing out in the landscape away from other trees it has a christmas tree shape. Sycamores become very tall trees, some reaching up to 100 feet. Step on the balls bare footed, if it hurts like heck, it is sweet gum.:eek: