Platanus x acerifolia (London Plane Tree, or Western Sycamore) is in the Platanaceae family native to temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Platanus x acerifolia is a hybrid between
P. orientalis and
P. occidentalis. The tree is frequently pollarded (the tops of the trees cut of to encourage new growth); examples can be seen on the University of California, Berkeley campus and at Filoli.
The tree is deciduous, and key diagnostics include leaves that are alternate, simple, palmate, 4-10” long and wide with 3-5 lobes, coarsely toothed margins, fuzzy tomentose undersides, fall color (typically brownish gold in Dublin). Flowers are ¾ to 1” round, either single or in twos and threes on a string (male flowers are from previous year, female flowers are from current year); seed balls ripen in the fall, drop to the ground and disintegrate into many achene seeds. Bark is smooth and cream-colored, and peels in blotches.
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| Platanus x acerifolia - leaf shape and habit. |
This is a tough tree that can tolerate heat, smog, and dust. It is susceptible to Anthracnose, which causes leaf drop and disfiguration. I could see evidence of disease in my sample (see picture above).
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