Platanus acerifolia
The London planetree was so named because of its adaptability to the smoke and grime of early industrial London. The London planetree is a massive tree rising up to 100‘, and out to 80’ from a stout trunk with plating exfoliating bark in shades of olive-green, cream, gray, and fawn. The muscular branches spread outward with 10” leaves similar in shape to the Acer, maple leaf. This noble tree is suitable for parks, golf courses, and campuses.
In autumn, clustered buttonball seeds can be seen suspended from long peduncles beneath the symmetrically arranged spray of leaves. With the frost, the parchment textured leaves turn brown and drop with a clatter. In winter, the tree reveals its multicolored bark exfoliating in plates revealing cream, green, gray, and fawn colors on the stout trunk, and wide spreading branches. The buttonballs persist on the twigs through the winter. Eventually, the brown buttonballs shatter to allow seeds born on silken parachutes to be carried by the winds. Squirrels and finches relish the seeds. The London planetree is one of the most handsome large trees in winter, when its branching character is revealed.
-------------------------------------------------------
Trees of New Bedford series
London Planetree
by Joseph Emmanuel Ingoldsby, ASLA
- Common Name: London planetree
- Botanical Name: Platanus acerifolia
- Distinguishing features: The London planetree is a massive tree rising up to 100‘, and out to 80’ from a stout trunk with plating exfoliating bark in shades of olive-green, cream, gray, and fawn. The muscular branches spread outward with 10” leaves similar in shape to the Acer, maple leaf.
- Spring features: The red faced green globular flowers are monoecious with male and female flowers on separate peduncles (stems) that emerge with the unfurling orange leaves in April.
- Summer features: In summer, the London planetree leaves have fully emerged and are a medium to deep green in color. The tree creates a dense shade from the fully leafed, extending branches1.
- Fall features: Clustered buttonball seeds can be seen suspended from long peduncles beneath the symmetrically arranged spray of leaves. With the frost, the parchment textured leaves turn brown and drop with a clatter.
- Winter features: In winter, the tree reveals its multicolored bark exfoliating in plates revealing cream, green, gray, and fawn colors on the stout trunk, and wide spreading branches. The buttonballs persist on the twigs through the winter. Eventually, the brown buttonballs shatter to allow seeds born on silken parachutes to be carried by the winds. Squirrels and finches relish the seeds2. The London planetree is one of the most handsome large trees in winter, when its branching character is revealed.
- Crown: The London planetree is pyramidal in youth and wide spreading with age. The wood is heavy, hard, and tough which allows massive branches to extend outward giving the London planetree its monumental appearance.
- Use: The London planetree was so named because of its adaptability to the smoke and grime of early industrial London. The London planetree can be seen at its best along Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Hyde Park in London, along the roads following the Tiber in Rome, and the allée within the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. This noble tree is suitable for parks, golf courses, and campuses. The tree does best in deep, rich, well-drained soils like its American cousin, the native sycamore, which thrives along streams, on riverbanks, and in bottomlands.
- History: The first seedling hybrid tree was discovered in 1663 in London. It is a cross between the American sycamore and the Asian planetree. Soon after, it became the dominant street tree of industrializing London. It has become overused and as an urban street tree has an average lifespan of only 39 years1. Because Anthracnose disease and mildew are fatal problems, disease resilient and resistant cultivars have been bred in America including ‘Bloodgood’, ‘Columbia’, ‘Exclamation’, ‘Liberty’, and ‘Ovation’, and ‘Yarwood’1,3.
1. Michael A. Dirr, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Stipes Publishing, LLC, 1998
2. leafsnap, Canada, Platanus acerifolia, London planetree
3. Morton Arboretum, London Planetree
Acer saccharinum, Silver Maple, 38” DBH
Silver maple can reach great heights quickly in the right conditions of moist soils and fukl sun.. Generally, it is a short-lived tree prone to winter storm damage. It has a shallow spreading root system that can lift sidewalks and block drains. However, its lacy canopy is beautiful with its upright spreading branches and pendulous habit. It is native from Quebec to Florida wihin river floodplains where it can grow to full size.
