Plant Finder
Columbia London Planetree
Platanus x acerifolia 'Columbia'
Height: 90 feet
Spread: 70 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 5
Description:
A popular, durable and attractive shade and street tree, very tolerant of adverse conditions and road salt; upright pyramidal habit and beautiful white and brown mottled bark; best in larger landscapes, one of the most disease resistant varieties
Ornamental Features
Columbia London Planetree has forest green deciduous foliage on a tree with a pyramidal habit of growth. The large serrated lobed leaves turn coppery-bronze in fall. The mottled silver bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.
Landscape Attributes
Columbia London Planetree is a deciduous tree with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.
This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting squirrels to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
- Messy
Columbia London Planetree is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Shade
Planting & Growing
Columbia London Planetree will grow to be about 90 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 70 feet. It has a high canopy of foliage that sits well above the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 100 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!
This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.
Disclaimer - Rutgers Landscape & Nursery Plant Finder is an online resource representing many of the varieties that we carry over the course of the season, and is intended for informational purposes only. Inventory varies seasonally, so we cannot guarantee that every plant will be in stock at all times - please contact Rutgers directly for current availability.