Platanus x Acerifolia (London Plane (2023)

FAQs

What is the leaf arrangement of Platanus x Acerifolia? ›

Broadleaf deciduous tree, 70-100 ft (21-30 m), open, spreading with age. Bark exfoliates and is cream, olive, light brown, best asset of the tree. Leaves alternate, simple, 3-5 lobed, 15-18 cm x 20-25 cm, triangular-ovate or broad triangular, margins may be toothed to entire.

London plane-tree may be distinguished from the closely related American sycamore by the number of fruit clusters, and the bark. London plane-tree typically bears its round fruit clusters in groups of 2, while American sycamore usually bears solitary fruit clusters.

Growth Rate

This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24" per year.

Platanus × acerifolia, commonly called London planetree, is a hybrid cross between American sycamore (P. occidentalis) and Oriental planetree (P. orientalis).

Leaf Arrangement

The arrangement of leaves on a stem is known as phyllotaxy. The number and placement of a plant's leaves will vary depending on the species, with each species exhibiting a characteristic leaf arrangement. Leaves are classified as either alternate, spiral, opposite, or whorled.

Common leaf arrangement patterns are distichous (regular 180 degrees, bamboo), Fibonacci spiral (regular 137.5 degrees, the succulent Graptopetalum paraguayense), decussate (regular 90 degrees, the herb basil), and tricussate (regular 60 degrees, Nerium oleander sometimes known as dogbane).

This large tree should be planted at least 30 feet away from homes or other structures, and not too close to sidewalks, walls, or fences. Moreover, its massive size and messy growth habit from fallen leaves, twigs, bark, and fruit make the London plane unsuitable for all but the largest residential landscapes.

A crossbreed of American sycamore and oriental Plane tree, it can withstand the rigors of urban life, including streets and parking lot islands, and is widely considered to be the world's most reliable city tree. along city streets worldwide.

Its roots are so tough and aggressive, that it can lift sidewalks and curbs, invade sewer pipes, and crack building foundations.

Given its size, care should be taken to plant a London plane in a space where it can fully express it's beauty. This includes keeping it 30 feet away from structures and providing ample rooting space and avoiding areas with underground utilities.

Can you prune a London plane tree? ›

If you want to promote a tall trunk then the best time to prune a London plane tree is in June, removing the lowest branches. When you are looking to refine the shape of the crown and undertake formative pruning, the best time to do this is between October and February.

London plane trees need water about two times per month depending upon weather conditions. Turn off the water when it starts to run off. Let the water soak in and start watering again. Repeat this cycle until the soil is wet down to 18-24 inches (45.5-61 cm.).

London plane is valued for its ability to adapt to urban conditions and its resistance to pollution, and is therefore widely planted as a street tree in large cities, particularly London.

In addition to pollen, London plane trees also have trichomes and achene fibers, which can cause respiratory and eye symptoms due to irritation. It especially affects asthmatics and has a prevalence of 40% among allergy sufferers.

These large trees are native in North America, eastern Europe, and Asia and are characterized by scaling bark; large, deciduous, usually palmately lobed leaves; and globose heads of flower and seed. The plane trees bear flowers of both sexes on the same tree but in different clusters.

Redwoods, it turns out, have two types of leaves that look different and perform very different tasks. This previously unknown feature helps the trees adapt to both wet and dry conditions – an ability that could be key to their survival in a changing climate.

The most common shapes include oval, truncate, elliptical, lancolate, and linear. Leaf tips and bases may also be unique, with names based on their shapes. Leaf arrangement is mainly limited to two basic petiole attachments: simple and compound.

The patterned colour of leaves is called variegation – it is a reduction in pigmentation due to inherited (that is, genetic) characteristics of the plant, random mutations or viruses.

They emerge in late spring, most dropping in December, although a few may persist until very late winter. Plane tree flowers emerge in late May or early June about the same time that the leaves show.

This fungal disease is responsible for the shoot dieback and premature leaf fall that affects London plane trees in some years. Other plane species vary in their susceptibility. Whilst the disease can be unsightly, and the early leaf fall alarming, affected trees usually recover.

What pH should London plane soil be? ›

Fertile and well-drained soil is the best choice for growing london Plane. The ideal soil pH value is between 6.1-7.8, which means slightly acidic to neutral soil.

London plane tree is a hybrid cross of American sycamore and Oriental planetree. It is a large deciduous shade tree that is generally pyramidal when young and becomes open and spreads with age. It may grow to a height of 70 to 100 feet tall and 60 to 75 feet wide.

They don't absorb it, but pollution particles do get stuck to the bark and trapped in the hairs on the leaves. A 2011 study estimated that every year, trees in Greater London remove 850 to 2,000 tonnes of PM10 pollution particles, which are the type considered harmful to humans.

The London plane and American sycamore trees are similar in appearance, so it's easy to confuse them when they pop up together. They both have the same shape of leaves and a generally upright form. However, mature trees can be easily distinguished by looking at their bark and seeds.

When you do not prune your plane tree, it grows huge. Still, it helps trim the dying, dead, and diseased branches in winter. Another excellent technique to train your tree is pollarding to keep it short with club-like branches. Pollarding means cutting your tree back to the trunk to produce dense branches.

[5] The plane does indeed exude a pleasant fragrance, which is sweet, balsamic, and faintly perceptible as one approaches.

Silver maple tree

Silver maple trees have incredibly shallow, fast-growing roots. They might be prized for their vibrant colour in autumn, but their root systems are one of the most invasive of all.

Trees with Invasive Roots

For these species, mainly poplars (Populus spp.) and willows (Salix spp.) as well as silver maple (Acer saccharinum), always plant them 50 feet (15 meters) from any structure.

To achieve it, prune a London plane tree in late fall or early winter. Use well-honed blades that are sanitized and make cuts above the old growth. Take out all the young, tip end new season's growth. The gnarled, burled old stems produce an interesting form.

The timber of the London plane is extremely hard and tough that it is nearly impossible to split; it also has dark reddish-brown flecks against a lighter background known as lacewood.

What do the leaves of a London plane tree look like? ›

The leaves of the London Plane are simple and 'maple or sycamore-like'. They are large and palmately lobed and veined, with a noticeable leaf stalk / petiole. The top surface is a darker green than the lower. The veins are quite noticeable.

As the London plane grows, its bark is pushed off along the entire length of its trunk, unable to expand as fast as the tree is putting on growth. This shedding bark presents multiple benefits for the London plane tree.

Plane Tree Benefits – What Can Plane Trees Be Used For

The big, leafy plane tree graces streets in some of the busiest cities around the world. This versatile tree has adapted to survive pollution, grit and punishing wind, living on to provide welcome beauty and shade for many years.

About 10 gallons per 1 inch (2.5 cm) of trunk diameter per week (ex., a tree with 12″ DBH would receive 120 gallons) during drought. If there is unlimited water, there are records of trees absorbing 150 gallons of water in a single day.

Trunk can reach 4- to 8 feet diameter. Tree creates litter from large leaves, seed balls and twigs. Resistant to deer browse. Distinguish from the American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis):

The best known is probably Platanus occidentalis, more commonly referred to as the American sycamore. One defining characteristic shared among all the species is inflexible bark that breaks and breaks away as the tree grows, resulting in a mottled, peeling appearance.

The medium green leaves change to yellow and brown in fall.

Oriental Plane

* One of the parents of the London Plane hybrid and in some ways superior to it having better autumn colour, being more heat resistant and more tolerant of Plane Anthracnose. It also has slightly smaller and narrower deeply lobed leaves.

The dust is largely made up of a fluffy coating in the seed pods (it helps the seeds float, like dandelion (Taraxicum officinale) seeds) but it also contain trichomes, tiny hairs that coat the leaves. These trichomes are thought to be the main cause of coughing.

Oak – Oak tree pollen is one of the main types that causes allergic reactions, as these trees produce large amounts of pollen which is then carried by the wind. They're found throughout the US and usually pollinate in spring.

Can fake Christmas trees cause allergies? ›

People often wrongly assume artificial trees are less likely to provoke allergies, but they can be equally irritating, Meadows said. New artificial trees emit odors from the manufacturing process, while trees that have been stored may be harboring dust or mold.

Growth Rate

This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24" per year.

The Empress Splendor (botanical name Paulownia fortunei and P. elongata) is the one of the fastest-growing trees in the world. A hardwood, it can grow 10-20 feet in its first year and reaches maturity within 10 years. This picture shows a 2 year old tree grown in Alabama.

It is thought that the Parks Department's distinctive logo is based on the leaf of a London plane. The London plane is a hybrid between the native American sycamore and the non-native oriental plane tree. The London plane was planted throughout Central Park from the north side of the Harlem Meer down the East Drive.

Deeply finger-like lobed leaves.

The leaf of the sycamore is alternate, simple and palmately veined which means that the veins in the leaf radiate out from a single point. It is a large leaf with three to five lobes. The leaf edges are like saw teeth and the underside of the leaf is pubescent or fuzzy.

1 There are three basic types of leaf arrangements found in woody trees and shrubs: alternate, opposite, and whorled. For tender plants, you will encounter these types of leaf arrangements: basal, rosette, and distichous.

These large trees are native in North America, eastern Europe, and Asia and are characterized by scaling bark; large, deciduous, usually palmately lobed leaves; and globose heads of flower and seed.

Leaves are simple, and alternate. They grow 6 to 7 inches wide and are leathery leaves that have three to five lobes, similar to maple. The leaf surface is bright green and paler underneath and the margins are untoothed or nearly so. Fall color is yellow-brown.

The leaves may be bruised and applied to the eyes to treat conjunctivitis and other inflammations. Other medicinal plane tree benefits include treatment for coughs, respiratory problems, and stomachaches. (Always use caution when using herbal remedies, and consult with a doctor first).

What color do sycamore leaves turn in the fall? ›

In Florida, sycamores are one of the earliest trees to change color in autumn. Beginning in late August the leaves go from green to amber to brown.

Sumacs, maples, dogwoods, sassafras, and some oaks turn shades of pink, red, and maroon, while sycamores, hickories, poplars, sweet-gums, and catalpas turn gold, yellow, and orange.

Traditionally American sycamore has been used from everything from draw boxes and crates to tool handles. It is not a preferred material for hardwood flooring because it can be considered a little soft, but many manufactures will seek it out for mouldings & millwork, paneling kitchenware and butcher block applications.

MADCapHorse is an easy way to remember trees that have an OPPOSITE branching pattern: Maple, Ash, Dogwood, Caprifoliacae (honeysuckles and viburnums, mostly shrubs) and Horse Chestnut. Think of it like your arms- they are opposite of each other.

Plane tree (Platanus x hispanica)

The plane tree is a resilient giant, growing up to 35 metres tall. The mottled olive, brown and grey bark breaks away in large flakes to reveal new cream-coloured bark underneath. This process cleanses the tree of pollution that has been stored in the outer bark.

Deltoid is a triangle-shaped leaf, such as a cottonwood or poplar tree. Its name is derived from the Greek letter since the leaf is shaped like it.