Scientific name: Platanus x acerifolia
Common name: London planetree
Native: No
Native range: It is a hybrid of the native American sycamore, Platanus occidentalis, and the non-native oriental planetree, Platanus orientalis [1,2,3,4].
Distribution in North America: Click to view the USDA Plants Database page for P. x acerifolia.
USDA Zones: 5-9 [1]
Maximum age: Unclear. The oldest specimens show no signs of old age, although they may be up to 330 years old [4].
Ecology: Although it is a hybrid of a native tree and a non-native, the London planetree's seeds provide food for small birds, such as finches, and squirrels [1,2].
Ethnobotany: It is believed to have been created in order to provide a tree that could survive the harsh pollution of Industrial Age London [1,2,3,4]. It has since been widely spread and is a common ornamental tree in temperate regions across the globe [4].
