London Plane Tree – Platanus Acerifolia Columbia

The London Plane Tree, Platanus acerifolia ‘Columbia’, brings the beauty of the London Plane tree without the worry of the anthracnose disease (symptoms include discoloration and leaf drop) or mildew to the landscape. This circa 1970 variety is a hybrid between Platanus occidentalis and Platanus orientalis.

‘Columbia’ was developed in 1984 to resist the diseases that so often plagued Platanus acerifolia. A strikingly beautiful tree with an erect growth pattern, it grows quickly and can reach 30 feet in 12 years or 50 feet in 25 years. It will spread about half as wide as it is tall. Five-lobed medium to dark green leaves are a nice foil to the handsome peeling bark that is gray-yellow to gray-orange when new and gray-green with age. Come fall, the leaves turn yellow and drop allowing a better view of the fascinating bark patterns. Its fruit balls are spiky spheres.

This is a fabulously adaptable tree is unfazed by soil type, smog, heat, or disease. It can best be appreciated given room hence parks, lawns, golf courses and industrial parks are common applications. Best in Sunset Western Garden zones 2-24, it will be happiest in full sun with moderate water and deep rich soil.