What soil does London plane grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Is London plane hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should London plane be planted?

Plant it at least 15 m from buildings. Keep it at least 4 m from paving.

When does London plane flower?

Flowering: April–May, yellow, red.

How much water does London plane need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

London plane

Platanus × hispanica

London plane (Platanus × hispanica) is a large tree. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: medium.

Illustration of London plane — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A huge, long-lived shade tree with patchy peeling bark in cream and olive green that takes heat, city air and hard pruning in its stride. It suits only a really large garden or park: about eight metres after ten years, later thirty metres tall and more than twenty wide, with strong roots that lift paving and can get into drains. It drops a lot of litter (big leaves, bark plates, seed balls), and its pollen and the fine hairs shed from the leaves can irritate eyes and airways.

Watch out for

In Central Europe nearly every plane is infested by the sycamore lace bug, which bleaches the foliage to a yellowish white by midsummer, and by the plane leaf miner moth. In cool, wet springs anthracnose browns and drops the new shoots and leaves, and powdery mildew is common in summer. On old trees Massaria disease kills branches that can then break off suddenly. Young trees need watering for the first 3 to 4 years. The hairs shed from leaves and seed balls can cause coughing and eye irritation.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: High
Size after 10 years: 8 m × 6 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–May, yellow, red

All details

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	8 m × 6 m
Ultimate size	20–35 m × 18–25 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, yellow, red
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	High
Root aggressiveness	High
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 15 m
Distance from paving	at least 4 m
Litter	Leaves, Fruit
Planting distance	1200 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Plants that give shade

Looks good next to it

New Zealand hair sedge

Carex comans

Southern bush honeysuckle

Diervilla sessilifolia

Persian ironwood

Parrotia persica