London Plane

The Platanus x hispanica, or London Plane tree, has long been a favourite for urban environments, celebrated for its remarkable ability to thrive in polluted air and tolerate heavy pruning. Historically, it played a vital role in cleansing smog-laden air during the Industrial Revolution, making it a cornerstone of urban greening.

What sets our flat-top London Plane trees apart is their structured, architectural form. These trees are meticulously trained on 1.5 x 1.5m panels with 1.8m clear stems, creating a striking flat canopy that offers aesthetic and practical benefits. This unique shape provides a formal and contemporary look, perfect for lining streets, framing pathways, or adding a refined, symmetrical element to any landscape. The flat top also allows for easier maintenance and controlled shading, making it ideal for urban and residential spaces where uniformity and space management are key.

For more information on our non-flat top Platanus × hispanica, please see Platanus × Hispanica.

The tree is robust and fast-growing, with large, palmate leaves that resemble Norway Maples. Its foliage emerges vibrant green in spring and transitions to warm golden brown in autumn. Its signature fruits, hanging in spiky clusters, remain a decorative feature throughout much of the year.

One of the London Plane’s most distinctive traits is its peeling bark, which reveals a stunning patchwork of green, white, and cream as the tree matures. This natural process is visually captivating and contributes to the tree’s resilience by shedding pollutants absorbed into its outer layers.

Like its classic counterpart, the flat-top London Plane thrives in most soil types, including clay, and is a reliable choice for urban planting. However, its structured canopy offers added appeal for modern landscaping needs, combining functionality with timeless elegance.

Common names

London Plane

Soil type

Well drained, Clay, Will tolerate most soil types

Shape

Pleached

Foliage Colour

Green

Information Flags

Bark interest, Urban

Pleached tree

Yes

Location

Garden

Genus

Platanus