1 / 13

Platanus orientalis

oriental plane

Platanaceae

Southeastern Europe to western and central Asia

Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 7–9

Overview

Platanus orientalis is a large deciduous tree reaching 60-100 feet (18-30 m) tall with a broad, spreading crown as wide or wider, and a massive trunk on old specimens. The bark flakes away in irregular patches to leave a mottled surface of grey, brown, and cream. The leaves are palmately lobed with five to seven deep, pointed lobes, 5-10 inches (12-25 cm) across, and are cut more deeply than those of the related London plane. Tiny flowers appear in spring in hanging spherical heads; the females ripen into bristly, ball-shaped fruit clusters 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across, two to six strung along a drooping stalk, which break up in late winter to release wind-borne seed. Autumn leaves turn yellow-brown before falling. Growth is steady and the tree is long-lived, reaching several centuries. Small, irritant hairs shed from the unfolding leaves and fruit can affect skin and airways.

Native Range

Native from southeastern Europe through the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean into western and central Asia. Grows naturally along rivers, streams, and valley floors on deep, moist soils, and is widely planted as a shade and street tree in warm-temperate regions.

Suggested Uses

Planted as a large shade, park, and avenue tree where there is room for a wide crown, spaced 30-50 feet (9-15 m) apart. It is used for street planting in warm cities for its heat tolerance and dense summer shade. Its eventual size and spreading roots make it unsuited to small gardens or planting close to buildings.

How to Identify

Recognised by the large palmately lobed leaves with five to seven deep, pointed lobes 5-10 inches (12-25 cm) across, the flaking, mottled bark, and the bristly, ball-shaped fruit clusters hanging two to six on a stalk. The deeply cut leaves and multiple fruit balls per stalk separate it from London plane, which has shallower lobes and usually two balls per stalk.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height60' - 100'

Width/Spread50' - 80'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Spring

Flowers in spring, in April or May, as the leaves expand, in small hanging spherical heads. The flowers are wind-pollinated and without petals, so the display is inconspicuous. Fruit clusters form over summer and hang through winter. Seed is shed as the balls break up from late winter into spring.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green, yellow-brown in autumn

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

20-50 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on deep, moist, fertile soils and tolerates a wide pH range, summer heat, and urban air. It establishes readily with steady water and grows slowly on dry, shallow ground. Anthracnose can blacken and kill new spring shoots in cool, wet weather, and massaria disease causes branch dieback on stressed trees. The wood is strong, but old trees may shed limbs. Roots are large and spreading and can lift paving near the trunk. The tree needs ample space and suits parks and wide streets rather than small gardens.

Pruning

Prune in late autumn or winter to remove dead, crossing, or low branches and to raise the crown. The tree tolerates pollarding and hard cutting, regrowing strongly from cut points. Remove anthracnose-killed shoots in spring to limit reinfection.