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Platanaceae
London Plane
Platanus × acerifolia
Urban resilience and cosmopolitan adaptability.
- Family
- Platanaceae
- Genus
- Platanus
- Native to
- hybrid origin (Europe)
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Type
- deciduous tree
- Height
- 2000–3500 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- adaptable; tolerates urban soils
- Water
- medium
- Hardiness
- 5–9
- Lifespan
- perennial tree; 200–400 years
Did you know
- London Planes line more city streets worldwide than any other tree species, thriving despite pollution.
- The bark peels in jigsaw-puzzle patches of cream, olive, and tan, making it instantly recognizable.
- It is a hybrid between the American sycamore and the Oriental plane, first crossed around 1650.
- Its ability to shed bark helps it slough off pollution particles, a built-in self-cleaning mechanism.
- Some London Plane specimens in Berkeley Square, London, were planted in 1789 and still stand today.
Color meanings
Green
endurance through adversity