Photograph coming soon
Platanus × hispanica
Parasol Trees
Platanus × hispanica
London plane parasol tree
Big, maple-like leaves on a wide, flat canopy, and the famous camouflage bark of the London plane. A parasol-trained Platanus × hispanica gives instant, generous shade.
Wide, flat canopy for instant shade
Large, glossy maple-like leaves
Beautiful flaking, camouflage-patterned bark
Extremely tough and pollution tolerant
Please check before you visit. Our nursery is very well stocked, but what we hold changes with the seasons, so this plant may not always be in stock. Enquire before you head over and we will check availability and the sizes we have for you.
At a glance
Type
Parasol (roof-trained) tree
Foliage
Deciduous
Seasons of interest
Summer shade, autumn colour, winter bark
Canopy
Trained flat on a frame; kept to size with annual pruning
Position
Full sun or partial shade
Soil
Most soils
Hardiness
Fully hardy in the UK
Available
A range of canopy sizes and stem heights. Ask our team for current specimens and pricing.
Why we love it
The London plane is one of the toughest trees there is, and trained as a parasol it creates a living roof of big, fresh green leaves.
Its patchwork bark adds year-round interest, and the canopy can be kept to a set size with annual pruning, so it suits terraces and courtyards as well as larger spaces.
How to use it
Plant over a terrace, dining area or seating spot for dappled summer shade, or in rows to create a shaded outdoor room. Popular for restaurants, hotels and city gardens.
Planting and aftercare
Plant between autumn and spring and water through the first two summers. Prune annually in winter, tying in new growth to the frame and cutting back to keep the flat canopy.
See it in person
Every plant at Form is hand-selected, none contains new peat, and nothing beats choosing yours by eye. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey, just 30 minutes from London, where our team will show you the best of what is on the nursery right now. We deliver across London, Surrey and the Home Counties, and nationwide.
Walk in any time during opening hours and you will be looked after. If you would like dedicated time with a specialist, book a Genus Bar appointment.
Frequently asked questions
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The canopy is trained to a set size on a frame and kept there by annual pruning, so it can suit both large and modest spaces. Ask us about current canopy sizes.
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Yes, it is famously tolerant of pollution, heat and compacted urban soils.
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We keep a very well-stocked nursery, but our stock changes with the seasons, so availability varies. Please email us before you visit and we will check what we have and the sizes available.
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A parasol tree, sometimes called a roof-trained or umbrella tree, has a clear stem and branches trained flat on a frame to form a wide, level canopy. It gives instant, architectural shade over a terrace, seating area or dining table.
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Yes, and we encourage it. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey to see our parasol trees in person. Walk in any time during opening hours, or book a Genus Bar appointment with one of our specialists.
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Yes, we deliver nationwide. Deliveries are arranged by our dedicated in-house operations team, and larger specimens can be offloaded by HI-AB or Moffett where needed.
All our parasol trees
Explore every tree in our parasol trees collection, or view them all with photographs →
Platanus × hispanica
Can’t see what you’re looking for?
Get in touch and we’ll help you find it. Our nursery is very well stocked and we can source almost any plant through our network of trusted growers. Email info@formplants.com, or send us your whole plant list through our bespoke sourcing service.