Take a close look at this tree. It looks fascinating and has a lot of interesting features. The plane tree is not native to Europe. It is a hybrid of the American and Oriental plane trees. The first plane trees arrived in Germany in the mid-18th century. Now take a closer look.

Maybe you’ll notice something about the trunk? As a plane tree ages, its bark begins to peel off a little each year. This creates a mottled pattern of lighter and darker patches. The leaves, in turn, give a clue to the tree’s name. They have pointed edges, reminiscent of maple leaves.

In the spring, small reddish flowers form. These develop into spherical fruits that often remain on the tree throughout the winter and don’t fall until the following spring. But it’s not just the tree’s appearance that’s impressive!

The plane tree is a true survivor: even under difficult conditions—for example, in cities with heavy traffic and compacted soil—it can thrive and grow very large. It is considered resistant to exhaust fumes.
And it has another amazing trick up its sleeve: if a branch becomes infected with fungi, the tree can simply isolate it and shed it before the disease spreads further. Where such branches once were, small cavities form. These spots can serve as good shelters for birds or small mammals.

Key Statistics for the London Plane Tree
This tree in Lankow was measured in 2025. At that time, it was already over 12 meters tall, and its trunk had a circumference of 50 centimeters. Maybe you have a measuring tape with you—why not check how thick the trunk is now!
The plane tree stores approximately 441 kilograms of carbon in its wood, branches, and roots. Every year, the tree also absorbs about 13 kilograms of CO₂ from the air—that’s roughly the same amount produced by a 119-kilometer car trip. At the same time, the tree can retain about 800 liters of rainwater.
And its leaves act like a filter: year after year, they collect around 728 grams of particulate matter from the air and produce about 33 kilograms of oxygen – that’s enough for an adult to breathe easily for 53 days.