Leaves & needles
Large, leathery leaves with three to five broad, pointed lobes.
IntroducedDeciduousTypical height 20–35 m
London plane
Platanus × hispanica
A large urban tree with camouflage-pattern bark and hanging seed balls.
THROUGH THE YEAR
London plane through the seasons
A high, wide canopy of large maple-like leaves.
Foliage turns yellow-orange; seed balls remain hanging.
Mottled trunk, strong limbs and dangling spherical fruits.
Typical open-grown form. Leaf fall varies with weather and location; young or clipped trees may retain dead leaves. Pruned, sheltered and young trees can look different.
LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER
How to identify london plane
Bark
Peeling patches reveal cream, olive and grey areas.
Twigs
Green-brown twigs; a leaf scar nearly surrounds each alternate bud.
Buds
Rounded to conical buds, concealed beneath the leaf stalk before leaf fall.
Flowers & pollen
Small male and female flower balls hang on separate stalks on the same tree.
Fruit, seeds & cones
Brown spherical seed heads hang, often in pairs; they gradually break apart through winter.
Images show typical features and are not to scale. Confirm several features using the reference sources below.
CARE WITH PURPOSE
Caring for london plane
Help it thrive
Requires a large site. Tolerates city conditions but still benefits from uncompacted soil and establishment watering. Avoid excavating through its root zone.
Pruning advice
Preserve structure through small, selective cuts. Maintain an existing pollard only to an agreed cycle; starting one on a large mature tree needs specialist assessment.
When can it be pruned?
Dormant season, generally November–February
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Highlighted months are an indicative window for the work described, not a reason to prune every year. An unshaded month is not an absolute ban.
Timing must suit the tree's health, weather, wildlife and legal protection. Avoid severe frost, drought and vulnerable new leaf growth. Mature trees, major branches and suspected defects need professional assessment.
Tree health: what to watch for
Hairs from leaves and fruits can irritate; arrange specialist assessment for substantial work.
Identification & care references
Guide researched November 2026. Identification remains provisional until several features agree. UK native means native in some part of the UK, not necessarily your area.
Before work in England, check tree preservation orders, conservation-area restrictions and wildlife protection. Official tree protection guidance ↗