ArborNote’s Tree of the Week is the California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa). It is native to California and Baja California, where it grows in riparian areas, canyons, floodplains, at springs and seeps, and along streams and rivers. It is a large tree that grows to 110 ft in height with a trunk diameter of up to three feet.California sycamores don’t rely on a single deep taproot. Instead, they develop a highly adaptive root system that exploits cracks and fractures in rock (bedrock, cobble, or compacted alluvium) and sends roots laterally over long distances in search of moisture and penetrates surprisingly small voids where water collects. It is also widely planted horticulturally as a landscape tree in public landscapes and private gardens due to its wide canopy for shade. The Native Tongva people call the tree Shavar, and teas prepared from its bark were traditionally used as a blood tonic, a remedy for asthma, and an aid during childbirth.