Above: The London plane tree with full foliage Right: The London plane tree’s distinct patchy grey and cream bark.
The London plane tree This sycamore tree (Plantanus x acerfolia) is a hybrid
between the American sycamore and the Oriental one. It is so accepting of drought and pollution, includ- ing salt, that it has been widely used as a street tree in Europe for years. In London in 1920, 60 percent of the trees planted were plane trees. But it is not just because of its toughness that people
find the London plane tree desirable; it is for its beauty. With wide spreading, zig-zag branches, it offers acres of shade. At maturity the tree will be 90 to 100 feet tall with a spread of 65 to 70 feet. It is beautiful both summer and winter, with modified maple-leaf shaped leaves and spectacular bark and trunk features. The truck is vertical, with a clearance of about eight
feet, but the most striking thing about this sycamore is its wonderful patchy gray and cream bark. Not only is it eye-catching, but this tree can photosynthesize up to 10 percent of its energy needs through its amazing exterior. Its shape is pyramidal and rounded in youth, spread-
ing its branches as it matures. It produces a ball-type seed that contributes to one of its common names as the “button ball” tree. Although it grows fairly rapidly, it lives for a very long
time – some as long as 500 years, although at age 250 its trunk tends to hollow out. Upon reaching full height the trunks tend to get thicker reaching 10 to 15 feet in diameter. The roots are wide spreading but can survive in a
small root zone. Locally, the hybrid ‘Bloodgood’ that matures at 70 to 100 feet is available. Zone 5 or 6, although the native sycamore occurs in zones 4 to 9. h
www.localgardener.net Home and Gardener Living • 37
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