Weedbusters

Working together to protect New Zealand

  • Weedbusters
    • Who are Weedbusters?
  • What Are Weeds?
    • Weed List
    • Controlling Weeds
    • Disposing of Weed Waste
    • Banned Plants
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Weedbuster
    • Weedbusters Near You
    • Weed Quiz
    • 2-Minute Film Challenge Previous Winners
    • Funding Sources
  • Articles & Events
    • Articles
    • Events
    • Submit an Article
    • Submit an Event
  • Resources
    • How To…
    • Free Weedbusting Guide
    • Plant Me Instead Booklets
    • Weed Control Handbook
    • Display Panels
    • Media-Ready Material
    • Useful Links
  • Contact Us
You Are Here:
  1. Home
  2. What Are Weeds?
  3. Weed List
  4. Weed Information Sheet
What Are Weeds?

Weed Information Sheet

  • Weed List
  • Controlling Weeds
  • Disposing of Weed Waste
  • Banned Plants

Popular Links

  • Find That Weed!
  • Try the Weed Quiz
  • Read the Latest Articles
  • Weedbusters Near You
  • Weedbuster Events

Browse Weeds by Alphabet

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Sycamore

Botanical Name

Acer pseudoplatanus

Family

Aceraceae (maple)

Where is it originally from?

Central Europe and Western Asia

What does it look like?

Deciduous tree (<20 m tall) with smooth grey bark and hairless green shoots. Large buds (<5cm long) have pinkish inner scales. Bluish-green 5-lobed leaves (8-14 x 10-20cm) are in opposite pairs on reddish stems. Flowerheads (Oct-Nov) are narrow drooping clusters (5-15 cm long) of many dense, green flowers (2-4mm long), followed by reddish, winged, ?helicopter? seed capsules (2-4 cm long) containing two seeds (5-10 mm long).

Are there any similar species?

Maple similar, but seeds are green ripening brown.

Why is it weedy?

Long-lived, forms dense (often pure) stands. Produces many, long-lived, well dispersed seeds. Seedlings shade tolerant. Tolerates warm to very cold, moist to dry, most soils, wind, salt. Possibly able to release toxins into the soil to stop other plants growing near it.

How does it spread?

Wind, occasionally water movement. Plantations, hedges, gardens, waste places.

What damage does it do?

Forms dense (occasionally pure) stands, prevents recruitment.

Which habitats is it likely to invade?

Disturbed and intact forest and shrubland, short tussockland, fernland, river systems, bare land.

What can I do to get rid of it?

1. Dig out small patches (all year round): dispose of at refuse transfer station, burn or bury.
2. Bore and fill (summer-autumn): make 1 hole every 100 mm around the trunk and fill or saturate each hole with 2g metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg or 1.5ml glyphosate (undiluted) or 5g picloram gel.
3. Cut trunk and paint stump (summer-autumn): cut trunk near to the ground, and swab freshly cut stump with metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/L) or a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (50ml/L) or picloram gel.
4. Overall spray (full leaf stage only): metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/L).

What can I do to stop it coming back?

Follow up 6-monthly for at least 2 years before replanting bared sites to minimise seedling regrowth

Images

Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James
Photo: Trevor James

Download PDF Information Sheet

Browse/Search Weeds

Weedbusters

  • Who are Weedbusters?

What Are Weeds?

  • Weed List
  • Controlling Weeds
  • Disposing of Weed Waste
  • Banned Plants

Get Involved

  • Become a Weedbuster
  • Weedbusters Near You
  • Weed Quiz
  • 2-Minute Film Challenge Previous Winners
  • Funding Sources

Articles & Events

  • Articles
  • Events
  • Submit an Article
  • Submit an Event

Resources

  • How To…
  • Free Weedbusting Guide
  • Plant Me Instead Booklets
  • Weed Control Handbook
  • Display Panels
  • Media-Ready Material
  • Useful Links
  • Home
  • Contact Us

© 2023 • Website by RS

  • Home
  • Weedbusters
    • Who are Weedbusters?
  • What Are Weeds?
    • Weed List
    • Controlling Weeds
      • Controlling Pest Shrubs & Trees
      • Controlling Pest Vines
      • Controlling Pest Herbs & Ground Covers
      • Controlling Pest Grasses
      • Controlling Pest Aquatic Weeds
    • Disposing of Weed Waste
    • Banned Plants
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Weedbuster
    • Weedbusters Near You
    • Weed Quiz
    • 2-Minute Film Challenge Previous Winners
    • Funding Sources
  • Articles & Events
    • Articles
    • Events
    • Submit an Article
    • Submit an Event
  • Resources
    • How To…
      • Raise Weeds Awareness
      • Organise a Weedbusters Event
      • Put Together a Press Release
    • Free Weedbusting Guide
    • Plant Me Instead Booklets
    • Weed Control Handbook
    • Display Panels
    • Media-Ready Material
    • Useful Links
  • Contact Us
  • Find us on Facebook