London Plane

Despite its grisly look, this tree is one of the most common street trees in the world, as it tolerates pollution and urban conditions quite well. A signature element of the UC Berkeley campus along Sproul Plaza or towards the Campanile, the London plane (Platanus x acerifolia) is a mix between the Oriental planetree (Planatus orientalis) and American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis). Campus groundskeepers start pruning the trees during late fall and early winter by removing new-growth shoots before they mature into thicker branches. The London plane's unique look is a natural response to the pruning. The trees are perhaps most visually striking on a crisp, foggy winter morning stroll on campus.