london plane tree pros and cons

Are London plane trees toxic?

Well-Known Member. The thing is... as soon as someone official says "its not poisonous..." they open themselves up to any number of probably spurious lawsuits hoping for an out of court settlement. There are no recorded cases of London Plane causing poisoning in equids.

Are London plane trees messy?

London plane trees tend to be a somewhat messy, seemingly dropping something every day of the year. In fall, when other deciduous trees are dropping their leaves, the London plane leaves die, but persist on the branches throughout the entire winter. ... Sycamore trees have very interesting and attractive, mottled bark.

How long do London plane trees live?

The London plane can grow to 35m and live for several hundred years. The bark is olive green to grey, with large scaly plates that peel off to reveal a creamy bark beneath.

What is the difference between a sycamore and a London plane tree?

London Planetree has relatively smooth bark, with an inner bark that is primarily olive green, while Sycamore has a bark that strongly exfoliates in mid-Summer to expose an interior bark that is a mottled combination of white, cream, green, and gray.

Are London plane trees fast growing?

Description: Large deciduous, extremely hardy tree. Grows up to 1 metre per year.

What is the most common tree in London?

Believe it or not, the sycamore is the most common species of tree in London, beating what is often wrongly considered the most prevalent, the London plane. Numbering circa 656,000, the species make up 7.79% of the capital's overall tree population.

How big do London plane trees grow?

The London planetree grows to a height of 75–100' and a spread of around 80' at maturity.

Where does London plane tree grow?

The tree grows in almost any soil – acidic or alkaline, loamy, sandy or clay. It accepts wet or dry soil. Plane tree information suggests that plane trees grow best in full sun, but they also thrive in partial shade.

Do plane trees cause allergies?

So do plane trees cause hay fever symptoms? The answer is a guarded yes - particularly in September, among people with allergies. It's also likely but unproven that plane tree leaf trichomes cause a range of irritant effects in a wider population and for longer.

Why are there so many plane trees in London?

It was planted en masse at a time when London was black with soot and smoke from the Industrial Revolution and when population expansion forced greater urban planning. Taking a cue from the plane-lined boulevards built in Paris from around 1850, the tree flourished in London due to its hardy characteristics.

Is London plane tree good for firewood?

London plane timber is far too valuable to go for mulch or firewood, especially when you quarter-saw it for its 'lacewood' effect, where the tree's medullary rays surface in decorative flecks.

Are plane trees protected?

Tighter controls on the import of sweet chestnut and plane trees come into force today throughout England and Scotland as the latest action to guard against tree pests and diseases. ... This new legislation will help keep the UK free from plane canker and chestnut blight.

Is a London plane tree a maple?

The maple-leaved shape of the plane tree is extremely robust and is a popular street tree tolerating exhaust and polluted air in many countries.

Why is it called a plane tree?

Common names for the plane

The common name for the genus is 'plane' in British English, 'sycamore' or 'planetree' in American English. Variations of 'platane', 'platano' are used in much of Europe, names derived from the Greek 'platanos' or 'platus', meaning broad, and referring to the leaves.

How do you identify a London plane tree?

The leaves of the London Plane are simple and 'maple or sycamore-like'. They are large and palmately lobed and veined, with a noticeable leaf stalk / petiole. The top surface is a darker green than the lower. The veins are quite noticeable.

How do you prune a London plane tree?

To achieve it, prune a London plane tree in late fall or early winter. Use well-honed blades that are sanitized and make cuts above the old growth. Take out all the young, tip end new season's growth. The gnarled, burled old stems produce an interesting form.

Why do London plane trees shed bark?

According to Richards, there are many theories about why London Planetrees shed their bark: Exfoliating bark can help the tree rid itself of soot and other pollutants that might accumulate over time. ... The tree's photosynthesis may take place in the tree's cortex, the layer of tissue just below the bark.

How do you propagate London plane tree?

Cuttings from a plane tree should then be either inserted into the ground or placed into prepared nursery pots filled with well-draining growing medium. Cuttings taken in the fall to early winter should successfully root by the time spring arrives.

What is the rarest tree in the UK?

Mystery of the Black Poplar – Britain's rarest tree turns up in Rhewl lay-by. A group of Britain's rarest trees has been discovered – in a lay-by alongside a busy main road.

What is the most common tree on earth?

Currently voted the best answer.

This list says the Red Alder is the most common tree worldwide, growing fast in barren or burned areas. Other sources say the pines are the world's most abundant trees. About 30% of the earth is covered with trees, rapidly dwindling.

Where is the oldest tree in London?

In the grounds of St Andrew's Church in Totteridge sits what is believed to be the oldest tree in London. The ancient tree is a Yew tree and is thought to be between 1,000 and 2,000 years old.