Platanus hispanica

Also known as London Plane, Hybrid Plane, London Plane Tree

London plane trees dominate city avenues across the globe, easily recognized by their flaking, camouflage-patterned bark shedding in cream, green, and brown patches. A fertile hybrid between American sycamores and Oriental planes, these long-lived giants excel at filtering urban air pollution and tolerating heavily compacted soil. In winter, spherical seed balls hang from bare branches on long, thread-like stalks, providing forage for finches and other wintering birds.