Cultivars
'Atropurpureum' ('Spaeethii', 'Purpureum`)
This vigorous tree grows to 26.5 m (80ft) tall and has dark green leaves that are rich purple underneath. It produces clusters of purplish red winged samara on the tree is commonly planted in parks and large gardens as a specimen or for shade. This tree becomes infested with aphids and is susceptible to borders and leaf scorch.

'Brilliantissimum'
This small, slow growing tree has new growth that is coral salmon colour and is sensitive to hot winds.

'Corstorphinense'
The foliage on this plant is gold yellow.

'Erectum' ('Fastigiatum`)
This tree is of an upright form growing to 20m (60ft) tall, with erect branches.

'Erythrocarpum'
This tree grows to 25m (75ft) high with a sturdy trunk and spreading branches that have dark green lobed leaves with bright red petioles. During summer it produces winged samara that has bright red wings and appears in clusters beneath the branches.

'Flavo-variegatum'
This large spreading tree forms a dense rounded crown and produces lobed leaves that are mottled in yellow. It is and excellent summer shade tree for a large garden.

'Leopoldii'
This tree grows to 20 m (60 ft) tall and produces leaves that have pink or purple markings or are distinctly mottled in green-white giving a marble effect.

'Negenia'
This fast growing tree has a solitary trunk with ascending branches forming a conical habit. It has a dark green lobed leaves with irregularly serrated margins and a long bright red petiole. It is planted in parks and gardens as a specimen or shade tree.

'Nizetii'
The leaves on this plant are purple on the underside and blotched with pale green and white on top.

'Prinz Handjery'
This slow growing bushy tree is very similar to 'Brilliantissimum`; the main difference being the underside of the leaf is purple and not green.

PURPUREUM GROUP
'Simon-Louis Freres'
The new foliage is pink, maturing to a blotchy green and white with a green underside.

'Woorleel' ('Worley`)
This medium sized tree has new foliage that is yellow suffused with green and red petioles.

Weed Potential
As a weedSycamore Maple is invasive appearing in moist cool regions and infests woodlands or forests, along water courses and disturbed soils.

It forms dense stands in openings reducing light inhibiting the regeneration of native tree or shrub seedlings. Mature trees hinder native trees growth habit and fallen foliage reduces the understorey growth. It is fast growing in a sunny position tolerating most soils and maturing in 5 to 10 years and living for up to 400 years.

Seeds are produced prolifically from summer to autumn and germination occurs during spring. The seeds are dispersed by wind, water or in garden waste.

Controlmethods include physically digging out seedlings and small plants when the soil is moist ensuring that the roots are removed. Fruiting branches should be bagged and destroyed.

Plants can be cut and painted on the stems or drilled and injected in the trunk with a non-selective herbicide during autumn. Follow up applications may be requires as the tree easily re-shoots. Young plants or seedlings may be sprayed with a non-selective herbicide during spring while the plant is actively growing.