A sycamore is a large, sturdy tree known for its broad leaves and distinctive bark that peels away in patches, creating a camouflage pattern of white, gray, and brown. These trees can grow enormous, with trunks sometimes so wide that several people holding hands couldn't circle them. Their branches spread wide, creating generous shade beneath them.

Sycamores grow in different parts of the world, but the name is used for different kinds of trees. In North America, “sycamore” usually means the American sycamore, which thrives near rivers and streams, where its roots can reach water. In Europe and the Middle East, the word can refer to other species, such as the sycamore maple or the sycamore fig. In many towns, you'll find old sycamores lining streets or standing in parks, some of them more than a hundred years old.