London Planetree
Platanus × acerifolia, also called London plane tree
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 5-8
- Mature size
- 70 to 100 feet tall and 60 to 80 feet wide
- Native to
- Hybrid of American sycamore and the Asian (Oriental) planetree
- Sun
- Full sun; does not tolerate shady sites.
- Soil
- Moist, deep, rich, well-drained soil, but adaptable to pH, clay, occasional flooding and occasional drought, and moderately salt tolerant.
- Growth
- Fast.
Before you plant one
- Needs a very large space: plan for more than 60 feet.
- Roots can invade sewer pipes and lift sidewalks.
- Messy: drops twigs, leaves, bark and seed balls.
- Young trees can get frost cracks.
Growing London planetree
The classic city street tree, with the same peeling bark as sycamore. It is easiest to tell apart by its seed balls, which hang in pairs rather than singly, and its more deeply cut leaves. It tolerates urban pollution, which made it popular in London and other cities. Water it through moderate droughts for the first few years until roots establish.
Common problems
Canker stain, anthracnose, leaf spots, aphids, plant bugs, scale and borers. Cultivars vary in anthracnose resistance; the Morton Arboretum lists several.
Questions people ask
What zones can I grow London planetree in?
USDA hardiness zones 5-8.
How big does London planetree get?
70 to 100 feet tall and 60 to 80 feet wide at maturity. Fast.