Sycamores are long-lived and are able to grow in a wide range of conditions, including shade. Each tree produces many seeds over its lifetime and these seeds are very efficiently spread by wind. Seedlings are tolerant of shade and will produce dense stands, preventing native seedlings from establishing. Sycamore will also spread through suckering. While spreading throughout New Zealand, southern areas are worst affected, and in some places sycamore has taken over large areas of natural areas, forming sycamore ‘forests’ where no other species grow.

Seedlings can be pulled by hand, and larger trees can be cut and the stumps painted with a suitable herbicide to prevent regrowth. Large areas can be sprayed at full leaf stage only. For more information on control methods check out www.weedbusters.org.nz

Native alternatives include ribbonwood (Plagianthus regius) and hoheria (Hoheria angustifolia). Colourful non-native alternatives include liquidamber (Liquidamber styraciflua) and maples, or perhaps the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipfera). Your local garden centre will be able to suggest other suitable non-weedy species for your local growing conditions.