History of
Platanus x acerfolia
Table of Contents History Platanus x acerifolia Platanus occidentalis Platanus orientalis Uses of Tree in London Uses of Tree at OSU
History of London Planetree
two or more plants. The specific epithet is acerifolia which translates into acer like foliage because the leave of the tree resembles that of a generic maple leaf.The trees are used for their magnificent bark and beautiful fall color. The trees can also grow to large heights and tower over many other plants making a statement. Through the years people across London Planetree next to river
The London Planetree (Platanus x
acerifolia) is a cross between the American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) and the Oriental Planetree (Plantanus orientalis). The hybridization is rumored to have been around
London and other European cities have started to use them as a common tree. As more people started to move from Europe to America they brought the planting of this tree with them and used it in similar ways as they do overseas.
as far back as the 1640s. Around this time the London Planetree began to be planted around the city of London and across other large European cities. The tree is very tolerant of high quantity of urban air pollution and poor water quality. The scientific name of the plant is Platanus x acerifolia because it belongs the genus Plantanus or planetree family and the x is because it is a hybridized cross between Allee of London Planetree
History of American Sycamore & Oriental Planetree
The Oriental Planetree (Platanus
orientalis) is native to Eastern Europe and parts of Asia. In Greece 500 years ago the Tree of Hippocrates was said to have been an oriental planetree and is still there today. The Athenian academy has groves of planetrees located throughout, and were used as sacred spaces for students to listen to music and Natural American Sycamore
The American Sycamore (Platanus
occidentalis) tree is native to North America. It is a large deciduous tree that have grow for hundreds of years. Many of these trees are found where there is poor soil quality
study philosophy. Most small towns in Greece have one or two ancient planetrees in the central square where the spring is located. The planetree can be found in Kashmir at many holy Hindu places under the name of the goddess Bhavani.
or large amounts of water. These giants can be identified from far away from their distinguishing bark and large size. In America many people have them existing on their property and don’t cut them down. They are used for their ornamental features and also help with shading areas that other trees can’t grow in. The tree can also be seen growing naturally by rivers and streams. Oriental Planetree island
London Planetree Platanus x acerifolia
The London Planetree is a
deciduous medium sized tree. The form of the tree is a straight trunk with a pyramidal to rounded crown. The canopy reaches the around the same as the height of the tree. The tree is cultivated in North America Platanus x acerifolia leaf
and Northern Europe. The tree can tolerate poor soil conditions and air quality. The leaf is larger than its parent species and is maple like in shape. The flowers are tiny clusters of red to yellow-green flowers and are not showy. The fruit are achenes that hang 2 per stalk in Autumn. Platanus x acerifolia bark
Height: 60-80” Spread: 60” Fall Color: Yellow/Brown-yellow Leaf: 5-9” long Bark: Smooth, Camouflage color Flower: Red/Yellow-green, Spring Fruit: Achene, 2 per stalk, Autumn Platanus x acerifolia fruit
American Sycamore Platanus occidentalis
The American Sycamore is
a medium to large sized deciduous tree. The form of the tree is a straight trunk with a heavy, round and irregular crown. The canopy spreads a little less that the trees height. The bark is gray that then exfoliates to a white undertone. The Sycamore is native to Platanus occiedentalis leaf
North America and can reach a max height of 140’. The leaves resemble a leaf of a sugar maple except larger. The fruit is a tiny cluster of red to yellow-greenish flowers and are not showy. The fruit is a tiny achene that hangs as a single fruit from the stalk throughout the Autumn. Platanus occiedentalis bark
Height: 60-100” Spread: 50-80” Fall Color: Yellow/Brown-yellow Leaf: 4-10” long Bark: Smooth, White colored Flower: Red/Yellow-green, Spring Fruit: Achene, Autumn-Winter Platanus occidentalis fruit
Oriental Planetree Platanus orientalis
The Oriental Planetree is a
medium sized deciduous tree. The form of the tree is a straight trunk with a symmetrical round crown. The leaf is more lobed and toothed than the American Sycamore. The bark exfoliates to show a creamy Platanus orientalis leaf
color underneath. The tree is native to Asia and Europe and grown in North America. The flower is a small green round cluster that blooms in the spring. The fruit is an achene that forms in the Autumn and turns brown right away. There is only one fruit per stalk unlike the Platanus x acerifolia. Platanus orientalis bark
Height: 60-80” Spread: 60” Fall Color: Yellow/Brown-yellow Leaf: 5-9” long Bark: Smooth and cream undertone Flower: Red/Yellow-green, Spring Fruit: Achene, brown, Autumn Platanus orientalis fruit
WAYS of USE London, United Kingdom
Map of Street Trees (London)
Kew Gardens uses the London
Planetree as more of a specimen tree or stand alone shade tree. Unlike the city of London there are no lines of planetrees lining the walkways throughout the garden. The trees at kew are large old majestic trees that have very ornamental qualities. Kew Gardens shade tree
Throughout the city of London
the planetree is used along the sides of the streets and walkways to help with filtering the water that runs off from the surfaces. This species can tolerate very low air quality and polluted water making it a perfect tree for streets. London street tree
The London Planetree can
reach heights of 70-80 feet tall making it a good tree to plant for shade. These trees are able to stand alone by themselves because they have many distinct ornamental features. Many residence use the tree in there front yard to shade their house. London shade tree
WAYS of USE OSU Campus
Map of Street Trees (OSU Campus)
The South Oval of the Ohio
State University Campus uses the planetree as a shade tree for students to sit under and study and relax. The large trees are also used as a statement tree because of their ornamental qualities and their large size.The trees are enjoyed by students everyday South Oval shade tree
The
Knowlton
School
of
Architecture’s south garden uses the London Planetree as a shade tree and also for its ornamental qualities. The garden is planted with many bulbs and spring blooming plants. With the planetrees the garden is able to have interest throughout the whole year. Knowlton South Garden
Throughout the Ohio State
University
Campus
the
London
Planetree is used as a street tree. Streets the have high traffic are perfect for the tree because of the conditions they can grow in. West Woodruff and Anne and John Glenn Avenue are both lined on one side. West Woodruff Avenue street tree
By: Dan Phillips