12. London Plane

Common Name – London Plane

Latin Name - Platanus x hispanica

Height - 35 Metres 

This is fast growing deciduous tree, which, is thought to be a cross of the Oriental Plane and American Plane trees it was first recorded in Britain in the early 1660’s. It was planted extensively, throughout the capital ‘London’ because of the trees ability to handle pollution. It was perceived at the time to responsible for clearing up the smog laden air resulting from the conception of the ‘Industrial Revolution’ of the time. Reputedly the oldest specimen of this tree in England is in Bishops Garden Palace at Ely in Cambridge which, was planted by Bishop Cunning more than 300 years ago.

Generally the tree can reach upwards of twenty-two metres at maturity, the leaves of the tree are green and palmate and the female flowers of the tree will eventually, develop into spiky rounded fruits that resemble baubles and hang from branches for much of the year. Whilst the tree is not that important to wildlife, the wood was used for making an attractive golden-brown veneer.