Platanus racemosa --Western Sycamore--

Native to California and Baja California, this large tree grows up to 110 ft in height with a trunk diameter of up to 3 ft. Its bark is a patchwork of white, tawny beige, pinkish gray, and pale brown, with older bark becoming darker and peeling away. In the fall, it drops copious amounts of dry golden to orangish red leaves. Tough, coarse-grained wood is used as a meat preparation block by butchers. Many small birds feed on its fruit, and several mammals eat its twigs and bark, and is an important hos plant for the western Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. Wonderful fast-growing shade tree.