Platanus acerifolia
Common plane
Platanaceae family
Origins : England, 1670
Palmed leaf

The common plane, or London plane, can reach up to 35m in height. This hybrid has a fast growth and can thrive in soil in which most trees wouldn't. It is a "super" tree, resilient, and can endure air pollution as well as recover from many hardships (excessive pruning, accidents...). This is why it is often planted in cities.

The subject in front of you has probably (or mostly) never been altered, so you can see here its natural shape.

Unfortunately, plane trees are targeted by a very contagious mushroom (Ceratocystis platani) that kills them. This mushroom has not reached our region yet and gardeners do everything they can so that it does not spread here, as it would be catastrophic for many of our boulevards such as the Boulevard de la Liberté in which you can find plane trees that were planted over a century ago. For example, the equipment used on plane trees is disinfected before and after every use.

The plane tree across seasons

Come discover the Citadel's trees throughout the seasons: it's a new park that you will get to see with each passing month.

Platane en hiver (© Daniel Rapaich, DICOM, Ville de Lille)
Platane en hiver (© Daniel Rapaich, DICOM, Ville de Lille)
Platane en hiver (© Daniel Rapaich, DICOM, Ville de Lille)
Platane en hiver (© Daniel Rapaich, DICOM, Ville de Lille)

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The Citadel's remarkable trees: Forest path

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