London Plane
Platanus x acerifolia · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Platanaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Street Tree, Ornamental
Variety / Cultivar
London Plane (Common Hybrid)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9; highly adaptable to urban heat and diverse climates.
About This Tree
A large, vigorous tree known for its spreading canopy and distinctive camouflaged bark. This specific specimen shows signs of pollarding, a pruning technique that creates dense knobs of foliage. It has a high crown density and moderate to fast growth rate.
Leaf Characteristics
Large, palmately lobed (3-5 lobes) resembling maple leaves; 6-10 inches wide; medium green above, paler beneath; alternate arrangement with coarsely toothed margins.
Bark Characteristics
Most distinctive feature; exfoliating in large irregular plates to reveal creamy, olive, and light brown inner layers, creating a camouflage mosaic pattern; smoother on younger branches, more rugged at the base.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Hybrid origin (Europe); likely cross between American Sycamore and Oriental Plane
Growing Season
Leafs out in late spring; flowers in April-May; seeds ripen in autumn; dormant in winter; yellow-brown fall color
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun; requires moderate water but is remarkably adaptable to various soil moisture levels once established; highly drought tolerant.
Mature Size
70-100 feet tall and 65-80 feet wide; fast growing; can live several hundred years; trunks become very thick with age.
Special Characteristics
Extremely tolerant of urban pollution, compacted soil, and heavy pruning (pollarding); resistant to Anthracnose compared to the American Sycamore; high timber value for fine furniture.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides nesting sites for large birds; seeds are occasionally eaten by squirrels and songbirds; role in the ecosystem is primarily as an urban climate regulator through shade and carbon sequestration.