Platanus x acerifolia (London Plane Tree)

Platanus x acerifolia (London Plane Tree) Details

Commonly known as the London Plane Tree, this is a large, deciduous tree grown for its foliage, stature, and showy fruits. The foliage is lush, dark green, and develops a yellow-brown colour before falling in autumn. A distinctive feature of this tree is the brown bark which is shed to reveal a cream-white inner bark resulting in a trunk with a somewhat mottled appearance. Small flowers are produced in spring with male flowers being yellow and female flowers red. The female flowers result in fuzzy, green balls containing seeds. These persist on the tree into early winter and gradually change to a brown colour. It grows with a broad crown to about 25 m tall and 20 m wide and can be trimmed as necessary. It grows best when planted in full sun on a well-drained site, and is tolerant of frost, cool climates, urban pollution, and moderate wind. The London Plane Tree makes a fantastic shade tree and is commonly grown as a specimen in large gardens or parks, or used in an avenue planting.