{"slug":"platanus-x-acerifolia","scientific_name":"Platanus × acerifolia","common_names":["London plane","London planetree","Hybrid plane"],"family":"Platanaceae","type":"broadleaf_deciduous","mature_height_m":25,"mature_spread_m":20,"growth_rate":"fast","lifespan_years":null,"hardiness_zones":[4,9],"sun":"full","water":"medium","soil":"Rich, moist, well-drained soil preferred; tolerates clay, alkaline pH, compaction and occasional wet","native_range":"A garden hybrid of American sycamore and Oriental plane, probably arising in Spain or southern France in the 1600s; not native anywhere.","description":"A huge, fast shade tree with cream, olive and tan camouflage bark that flakes off in plates, big maple-like leaves and paired bristly seed balls that hang through winter. It tolerates pollution, compacted soil and hard pruning better than almost any large tree, which is why it is the dominant street tree in London, New York, Paris and many other cities. It is also messy, lifts sidewalks with its roots and gets anthracnose in wet springs; disease-resistant cultivars ('Bloodgood', 'Columbia', 'Liberty', 'Exclamation!', 'Yarwood') are the ones to plant.","care":"Plant in full sun with room for a 60 ft crown and water deeply through establishment. Prune in the dormant season; it tolerates pollarding but that commits you to repeating it. Anthracnose, powdery mildew, canker stain (fatal, spread by tools) and lace bug are the main problems; disinfect pruning tools and rake fallen leaves. The fine hairs on leaves and fruit can irritate airways.","benefits":["shade","fast_canopy","drought_tolerant","storm_resistant","carbon"],"uses":["street_tree","parks","yard_shade"],"cautions":["heavy_litter","large_roots","surface_roots","pest_prone","allergenic_pollen"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Berkeley_Square_-_geograph.org.uk_-_911963.jpg","image_credit":"Richard Croft, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons","sources":["https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/platanus-x-acerifolia/","https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PLHI","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platanus_%C3%97_hispanica"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/platanus-x-acerifolia","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/platanus-x-acerifolia.md","regions":[{"country":"ES","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Hybrid of garden origin (Platanus occidentalis × P. orientalis), probably first raised in Spain or southern France.","source_url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platanus_%C3%97_hispanica"},{"country":"CA","region":"ON","locality":"Toronto","status":"recommended","note":"London plane is on Toronto's list of species planted on streets.","source_url":"https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/trees/tree-planting/species-planted-on-streets/"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"Los Angeles","status":"recommended","note":"On the City Plants (Los Angeles) Street Tree Species List","source_url":"https://www.cityplants.org/street-tree-species-list/"},{"country":"US","region":"CA","locality":"Sacramento","status":"recommended","note":"On the Sacramento Tree Foundation Shady 80 recommended trees list","source_url":"https://sactree.org/best-trees-for-sacramento/"},{"country":"US","region":"CO","locality":"Denver","status":"recommended","note":"On the Denver Office of the City Forester Approved Street Tree List","source_url":"https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/747/documents/forestry/Street_tree_guide.pdf"},{"country":"US","region":"OR","locality":"Portland","status":"recommended","note":"'Bloodgood', 'Columbia', 'Liberty', 'Exclamation' and 'Yarwood' London planetree are on Portland's list for planting strips 8.5 ft and wider.","source_url":"https://www.portland.gov/trees/85-foot-wide-and-greater-planting-spaces-without-high-voltage-power-lines"},{"country":"CA","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Planted as a street tree in southern Ontario and British Columbia; USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in Canada.","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PLHI"},{"country":"US","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Introduced; one of the most planted street trees in US cities, hardy in zones 4 to 9. USDA PLANTS (as Platanus ×hispanica) lists it as introduced.","source_url":"https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/PLHI"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}