Platanus - Buttonball, Buttonwood, Sycamore Tree
(Plat'anus)
DESCRIPTION: These large, deciduous trees are natives of southeastern Europe, Asia Minor and North America. These trees, commonly known as Plane Trees, Buttonball, Buttonwood and Sycamore, are easy to grow and provide excellent shade. These lofty trees are suitable for growing in large yards and avenues rather than small yards and narrow streets where they will eventually overtake. Plane Trees always are shedding some of their bark throughout the year; however, every few years, sections measuring 2 or 3 feet long and a foot or more wide may fall off throughout the summer. When this happens, the inner, white, greenish or yellowish bark is revealed. Plane trees produce glossy, bright green, Maple-like leaves having 3 to 5 shallow lobes. The tiny, inconspicuous flowers of these trees are produced in round heads at the ends of string-like stalks. Round seedpods, an inch or so in diameter, dangle from the branches on pendulous stems; they are green in the summer turning brown in the winter. They often remain on the branches throughout most of the year. P. acerifolia (London Plane Tree) is one of the best to grow in cities because of its high tolerance to atmospheric impurities and it is also the most resistant to diseases. It grows from 70 to 100 feet high with a strong trunk measuring 12 to 15 feet in circumference. It produces a wide-spreading head of branches that are covered with lobed leaves, 6 to 10 inches across. Plane trees are susceptible to attacks by anthracnose, twig cankers and leaf blights. There are sprays available to prevent and treat these diseases. Plane Trees produce wood of good quality. It is hard, strong and coarse-grained. It can be used for making furniture, interior finish, siding, musical instruments and other devices. This wood is sometimes called Lacewood because of its pretty markings that are seen when it is cut radially.
POTTING: Grow Plane Trees in full sun or light shade. They will survive in any deep soil, even one that is alkaline, but the best is one that is moist and fairly rich. Plane Trees should be spaced at least 60 feet apart because they grow so large. These trees should be fertilized every year or two and provided with plenty of water during dry periods to help prevent the attack of disease. Plane Trees should be pruned in the winter. On young trees, however, it is necessary to shorten the side branches a couple times during the summer as well as remove side branches along the lower part of the trunk. The object is to produce a tree with a single trunk clear of branches. The trunk should run well up into the crown. A tree like this will be able to endure storms much better than a tree with multiple trunks that start a few feet from the ground.
PROPAGATION: Ripened shoots, 12 inches long, can be inserted in a cold frame or border outside in the fall. Suckers can be pegged down in the spring to form roots. Air layering may be done or seeds may be sown.
VARIETIES: P. acerifolia (London Plane Tree) & var. pyramidalis; P. occidentalis (American Plane Tree); P. orientalis (Oriental Plane Tree); P. cuneata; P. racemosa (California Plane Tree); P. Wrightii.
P. occidentalis
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