Bloodgood London plane
Platanus × hispanica 'Bloodgood'. Family Platanaceae. Tree.
Also called Bloodgood London planetree, Platanus × acerifolia 'Bloodgood'.
A very large, deciduous shade tree grown for its broad crown, green maple-like leaves and peeling bark patterned in cream, olive and grey. 'Bloodgood' is selected for resistance to anthracnose, though it is not immune. It suits large gardens and parkland, not small gardens or narrow spaces beside buildings.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun; tolerates light shade.
- Water
- Water regularly while establishing. Established trees tolerate some drought, but grow best with moisture available through summer.
- Soil
- Deep, moist, well-drained soil is ideal; tolerates clay, alkaline soil, urban compaction and occasional flooding.
- Height
- 60-100 ft (18-30 m)
- Spread
- 40-75 ft (12-23 m)
- Flowers
- Spring; small, inconspicuous reddish female and yellow-green male flower clusters.
- Foliage
- Large, green, maple-like leaves with three to five broad lobes, turning yellow-brown in autumn. Despite the cultivar name, the foliage is not purple.
- Growth
- Fast when young, especially in moist soil.
- Care needed
- Medium
The year at a glance
- Drought tolerant
- Heat tolerant
- Disease resistant
- Wildlife
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Fruit | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Toughness
- Very tough
Will it suit your garden?
Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.
Full sun is 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, part shade 3 to 6 hours, shade under 3.
How it grows
Planting day
9 ft (2.9 m)
After 1 year
15 ft (4.5 m)
After 2 years
20 ft (6.1 m)
After 3 years
25 ft (7.8 m)
After 5 years
36 ft (11 m)
About 13 years to full size.
From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.
Good to know
- Cats and dogs
- Safe
- Growth rate
- Fast
Care
Jobs through the year
- WaterApr–May, Sep–Oct, every 14 days
- Deep-water established trees if soil is dry; check young trees more often for three years.
- WaterJun–Aug, every 14 days
- Soak established trees during prolonged dry spells; young trees need more frequent watering.
- MulchMar–Apr
- Maintain 5–8 cm of organic mulch without covering the root flare.
- PruneJan–Feb
- Correct young branch structure; use an arborist for large limbs and never top.
- ProtectOct–Nov
- Remove infected fallen leaves and clear seed balls from paths.
- Choose a site with ample room for the mature crown and roots, well away from foundations, drains and paving.
- Water deeply during dry spells for the first two to three growing seasons; check soil moisture rather than watering on a fixed schedule.
- Spread organic mulch 2-3 in (5-8 cm) deep over the root zone, keeping it clear of the trunk.
- Do not routinely fertilize; feed only if soil testing or poor growth indicates a deficiency.
- Stake only if the root ball is unstable, and remove supports once the tree is securely rooted.
Pruning. In winter, train young trees to a sound framework by removing competing leaders and poorly attached branches. Have an arborist assess large limbs; avoid topping, and use regular pollarding only where a suitable framework has been established while young.
Through the year
- Autumn
- Plant while the soil is workable, allowing enough space for a full-sized tree.
- Winter
- Check branch structure and arrange formative pruning or an arborist inspection where needed.
- Spring
- Renew mulch without piling it against the trunk; watch new leaves for anthracnose after cool, wet weather.
- Summer
- Water young trees deeply during dry periods and inspect leaves for lace bug damage or mildew.
- Autumn
- Clear fallen leaves and seed balls from paths and gutters; remove diseased leaf litter.
In the garden
- A broad shade canopy over an expansive lawn, with room for its natural spread.
- A formal avenue on a large property, allowing generous spacing between trees.
- A parkland specimen where its mottled trunk and winter branch structure remain visible.
- A large urban garden tree where tolerance of pollution and difficult soils is useful.
Garden styles it suits: Urban city garden, Architectural minimal, Formal, Grand estate, Traditional and Winter interest.
Plant it with: Epimedium, Bigroot geranium, Lilyturf, Hart's-tongue fern, Snowdrops and Cyclamen.
Wildlife: The large canopy provides nesting and shelter for birds. Some birds eat the small seeds, and insects use the foliage and bark, although its wildlife value varies by region.
Problems to watch for
- Anthracnose can cause spotted leaves, shoot dieback and early leaf fall in cool, wet springs. 'Bloodgood' is relatively resistant; remove fallen infected leaves and have persistent branch dieback assessed.
- Plane lace bugs cause pale stippling and brown leaf undersides, especially in warm regions. Keep young trees adequately watered; seek local advice before treating a large canopy.
- Powdery mildew produces a white coating on leaves. Avoid excessive nitrogen feeding and improve airflow where practical; established trees usually tolerate mild attacks.
- Large limbs can develop decay or Massaria disease, which may cause branch shedding. Arrange professional inspections, particularly where branches overhang people, buildings or roads.
Safety
Not known to be poisonous to people, cats, dogs or horses. Fine hairs from leaves and seed balls can irritate eyes, skin and airways, especially during pruning or dry cleanup; pollen can also trigger allergies.
Easily confused with
American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
Usually bears one seed ball per stalk, whereas London plane commonly bears two. Leaf and bark features overlap, so identification from a single leaf is unreliable.
Oriental plane (Platanus orientalis)
Usually has more deeply cut leaves with narrower lobes and several seed balls along each stalk.
Bloodgood Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood')
A much smaller tree with dark red-purple leaves, opposite leaf arrangement and winged seeds rather than hanging seed balls.
The name
The common name London plane reflects the tree's long association with London's streets and squares.
Propagation. Propagate vegetatively by hardwood cuttings or grafting to retain the cultivar. Seedlings will not reliably reproduce 'Bloodgood'.
Checked against open data
- Accepted botanical name
- Platanus hispanica
Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.
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