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London Plane

A tree more common in cities than in the wild.

Description

  • Average height and spread up to 35 metres by 24 metres
  • Foliage: Deciduous
  • Leaves: Sycamore-like leaves are leathery and thick, with five triangular lobes.
  • Native to UK: No 

Did you know? 

  • You won’t find this tree in the wild. The London plane is an accidental hybrid of the American sycamore and Oriental plane first discovered in London during 17th Century, hence the name London plane. It is now the capitals most popular tree. 
  • London plane trees are resistant to pollution making it an urban favourite since the 19th century. The bark breaks away easily in large flakes to cleanse itself from pollutants which also gives the bark its distinct camouflage appearance. 
  • Susceptible to a fungal disease called Massaria which can create lesions on branches eventually weakening and killing off the branch.