London Plane Tree Seeds | (Platanus × acerifolia)
London Plane Tree Seeds | (Platanus × acerifolia)
Urban legend. Giant shade canopy.
Platanus × acerifolia, commonly known as the London Plane Tree, is one of the most resilient and widely planted urban trees in the world. A natural hybrid between the American sycamore and Oriental plane tree, this towering shade tree has earned its reputation for surviving conditions that defeat most other species, including pollution, compacted soil, heat, and city stress.
London Plane trees are easily recognized by their striking mottled bark that peels away to reveal patches of cream, olive, and tan beneath. Large maple-like leaves provide dense shade during summer, while spherical seed balls hang from the branches into winter, adding seasonal interest. In parks, boulevards, and historic city streets across Europe and North America, this tree has become synonymous with durability, longevity, and monumental presence.
- Iconic hybrid shade tree planted in cities worldwide
- Distinctive exfoliating bark in cream, olive, and tan tones
- Large maple-like leaves create dense cooling shade
- Extremely tolerant of pollution, heat, and compacted soil
- Long-lived and capable of reaching impressive size
Growing Details
- Botanical Name: Platanus × acerifolia
- Stratification: Cold stratify 30–60 days
- USDA Zones: 5–9
- Soil: Adaptable; tolerates clay, loam, and urban soils
- Light: Full sun
- Mature Size: 70–100 ft tall × 60–80 ft wide
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Lifespan: 100–300+ years
FAQ
What makes London Plane trees so popular in cities?
This hybrid species is extremely tolerant of pollution, compacted soil, and heat. Its durability allows it to thrive in urban environments where many other trees struggle.
How fast does London Plane grow?
It is considered a fast-growing shade tree and can add several feet of growth per year when planted in favorable conditions.
How can I identify a London Plane tree?
Look for its distinctive patchy bark that peels to reveal multiple colors underneath, along with large maple-like leaves and round seed balls that hang from the branches.
Is this tree suitable for smaller yards?
Due to its large mature size, London Plane trees are best suited for parks, large properties, boulevards, and restoration plantings rather than compact residential landscapes.
Why Grow London Plane?
- Legendary resilience – thrives in pollution, heat, and difficult soils
- Massive shade canopy – ideal for parks, boulevards, and large landscapes
- Striking bark – exfoliating bark creates year-round visual interest
- Historic tree – planted along famous streets throughout the world
- Long-lived legacy species – capable of living for centuries
Evergreen Seed Co. is trusted by growers nationwide for rare, resilient, and high-germination tree seeds. Each batch is carefully sourced, tested, and packaged with full planting instructions.
FAQ
FAQ
Do you pre-stratify the seeds?
Most of our seeds are not pre-stratified. We ship them unstratified so you can control germination timing based on your local growing season. We sell to all 50 U.S. states and Canadian provinces, and since each region has different planting windows, pre-stratifying would risk seeds germinating in transit or before you're ready to plant.
True stratification requires cold, moist conditions, which can lead to premature sprouting or mold if not timed properly. To avoid this, we store most seeds in dry cold conditions to preserve viability — but this does not initiate stratification.
Do any of your seeds need to stay moist? (Recalcitrant seeds)
Yes — some species we offer are recalcitrant, meaning they must remain moist to stay viable and cannot be dried out. Examples include: Chestnut, Hazelnut, Paw Paw, etc.
These seeds are shipped in moist cold storage and are clearly labeled on the product page when applicable. Please refrigerate immediately upon arrival and follow included care instructions.
Do you ship internationally?
We currently ship to the United States and Canada only. Unfortunately, we cannot ship to other countries without a phytosanitary certificate, which is required by most international customs agencies.
If you're interested in shipping outside North America, please contact us. Note that a phytosanitary certificate typically adds $60–$80 USD per seed type and must be arranged in advance.
Shipping & What's Included
Shipping & What's Included
Shipping & Packaging
Hand-packed in resealable zipper kraft paper seed bags
Stratification and planting instructions included with every order
1 free bonus seed pack included with every order
Ships within 3–5 business days via USPS
Return Policy
Return Policy
Due to the nature of our products, we do not accept returns on seeds.
However, if your order arrives damaged or incorrect, please contact us within 7 days and we’ll make it right.
