Platanus Acerifolia Hedging

The London Plane tree, Platanus acerifolia, is a vigorous, spreading, large tree that responds very well to pollarding and regular pruning. It loves heavy clay. Suitable for parks and big gardens.

Unfortunately London Planes use now subject to a movement restriction order in the UK which effectively removes them from sale indefinitely. This page, for the time being, is therefore for information only. One of the best substitutes, if you are looking for a stately, large leaved tree that can cope with heavy clay and air pollution is the Sycamore which produces a magnificent specimen tree if given enough room.

It can be grown as a screening tree up to about 35 metres high. It is a good, tall windbreak tree.
The plants on this page are young saplings. London Plane saplings are only delivered bareroot, during winter (Nov-March).

All of our young trees and shrubs are measured by their height in centimetres above the ground (the roots aren't measured). See our full range of hedging options.

General description of Platanus acerifolia plants:

The London Plane, Platanus acerifolia, is a big, stately tree with maple-shaped leaves. As it gets older, the mottled bark flakes away in irregular plates, creating a patchwork of green, white and cream. It is widely planted beside the road and in industrial zones. It is fast-growing and can be pruned hard on a regular basis; street trees are usually pollarded to restrict their size. Finches like eating the seeds.

History & uses of Platanus acerifolia:

You may see the London Plane listed as either Platanus acerifolia or Platanus hispanica. London Plane trees aren't from London or even Britain, they are probably a hybrid of an American Plane variety and the Oriental Plane, which arose naturally from imported trees in Spain during the 1600's.

Notes on planting London Plane:
Your plants will grow on pretty much anything and love thick clay soil. They are good for exposed, windy sites but not too close to the sea. They will grow poorly on chalky soil and we don't recommend them for the North or Scotland.

Prepare your site before planting:
It is good to dig over the area where you intend to plant several months in advance. Destroy the weeds first: nettles, brambles and ground elder are tough and a glyphosate based weed-killer is the best way to remove them. Then dig the soil over; remove rocks, roots and other rubbish. Mix in well rotted compost or manure down to the depth of about 2 spades.
If you have a heavy clay soil, it might be too difficult to dig over for most of the year. Heavy clay is fertile soil, so you don't really need to improve it; killing the weeds is still necessary.

Remember to water establishing plants during dry weather for at least a year after planting.

Planting accessories:
Prepare your site for planting by killing the weeds and grass with Roundup weed killer.
If you are planting in an area with rabbit and/or deer, you will need to use a protective plastic spiral for each plant, supported by a bamboo cane.
If your soil quality is poor, we recommend using mycorrhizal "friendly fungi" on the roots of new trees and shrubs.
You can also improve your soil with bonemeal organic fertiliser and Growmore.

Read our full terms and conditions here.

Delivery: Our standard delivery charges are:

Small box (Orders containing only seedlings or rooted cuttings) £7.20 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £60 inc VAT)
Standard box (Bareroots up to 1.2m) £11.40 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £60 inc VAT)
Large box (Pots up to and incl. 7.5L) £15.00 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £100 inc VAT)
Trees & Hedging (Bareroots & trees 1.2m+) £18.00 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £120 inc VAT)
Pallets (Root balls, large pots, trees etc) £60.00 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £240 inc VAT)

Because couriers sometimes experience delays, we schedule delivery by week, not by day. Therefore, please plan your planting day for the weekend at the end of the delivery week or for the week following delivery, at the earliest.
We will email you the day before your plants are due to arrive.

*Surcharges to the Highlands and Islands still apply.

Payment: We do not charge your card until we begin to prepare your order for packing.

Guarantee: If any plants die within a year, we will replace them. We only ask that you follow our planting & growing instructions and sent us clear photographs of the dead plants in situ, so we can help to make sure that the replacement plants succeed. You only pay for the delivery of the replacements.

Please note that our guarantee is void if there is a hosepipe ban in your area: your newly planted hedging must be watered in dry weather while it is establishing. The best way to water is very thoroughly every few days: at least once a week if there is no heavy rain.

Our nursery has been supplying container grown and bareroot hedging plants to gardeners, farmers and town planners since 1949. Our website started in 2003, so we do understand the concerns that you may have about buying hedging plants online. If any of your plants are damaged when they arrive or if you are otherwise not satisfied with your order after you inspect it, please repackage it and contact us. We will give you a refund or send replacements and send a courier to come and collect the unwanted plants.

Misc	RHS AGM
Soil	Acidic, Wet
Type	Screening
Also Good	Autumn Colour

	Buy 11 or more bareroot plants and save

SIZES	1-10	11-50	51-250	251-1000	1001+
120/150 cm	Not for sale as there is a movement restriction on all Platanus varieties £7.14	Not for sale as there is a movement restriction on all Platanus varieties£6.30	Not for sale as there is a movement restriction on all Platanus varieties£5.94	Not for sale as there is a movement restriction on all Platanus varieties£5.70	Not for sale as there is a movement restriction on all Platanus varieties£5.40
	Prices include VAT

London Plane Sapling Trees

Platanus acerifolia

Platanus Acerifolia Hedging

General description of Platanus acerifolia plants:

History & uses of Platanus acerifolia:

Bareroot planting is best done between October and April
Bareroot and potted - what's the difference?

London Plane Sapling Trees

Platanus acerifolia

Platanus Acerifolia Hedging

General description of Platanus acerifolia plants:

History & uses of Platanus acerifolia:

Bareroot planting is best done between October and April Bareroot and potted - what's the difference?

Bareroot planting is best done between October and April
Bareroot and potted - what's the difference?