1. Native / Non-native Status
Non-native. Native to central and northern Europe and western Asia. Introduced to Britain in the 17th century; widely planted in parks, streets, and gardens.
2. Evergreen / Deciduous
Deciduous – leaves fall in autumn.
3. Appearance
Leaves: Large (10–18 cm), 5-lobed, with sharply pointed lobes and deep sinuses (gaps). Glossy green in summer, turning brilliant yellow, orange, or red in autumn. Leaves arranged opposite. When stalks (petioles) are broken, they exude a milky sap.
Bark: Grey-brown, smooth when young, becoming shallowly ridged and fissured with age.
Flowers/Fruit/Seeds: Clusters of bright yellow-green flowers appear in spring before the leaves. Fruits are paired winged seeds (samaras), spreading at a near-horizontal angle.
Overall shape: A tall, broad tree with a rounded crown, often symmetrical and uniform.
4. Typical Size
20–30 m tall; crown spread 12–18 m.
5. Habitat & Range
Widespread across the UK in towns, parks, and shelterbelts. Very tolerant of pollution and poor soils. Does not naturalise as aggressively as sycamore but can self-seed locally.
6. Distinctive Features (ID tips)
Pointed, sharply lobed leaves (unlike sycamore’s rounder lobes).
Bright yellow flowers in spring before leafing.
Milky sap from broken leaf stalks.
Brilliant autumn colour.
7. Seasonal Changes
Spring: Striking clusters of yellow-green flowers before the leaves.
Summer: Dense green canopy.
Autumn: Leaves turn vivid yellow, orange, or red.
Winter: Bare branches, grey fissured bark.
8. Human Uses
Popular ornamental and street tree due to uniform shape and vivid autumn foliage.
Timber is pale, hard, and fine-grained, used for furniture, flooring, and instruments.
Frequently planted in shelterbelts and as windbreaks.
9. Wildlife Value
Flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and insects early in the year.
Seeds eaten by small mammals and birds.
Less valuable to specialist invertebrates compared to native maples.
10. Fun Fact / Cultural Note
One of the parents of the hybrid London Plane is sometimes confused with Norway maple due to leaf shape.
Widely used in North America as an urban tree, though sometimes considered invasive there.
11. Planting & Care (Basic Instructions)
Best time to plant: Late autumn or early spring.
Soil: Grows in most well-drained soils, including clay and sandy soils; tolerates acidic and alkaline conditions.
Light: Best in full sun but tolerates partial shade.
Watering: Water regularly until established; drought-tolerant once mature.
Spacing: Allow 8–12 m for large specimens.
Aftercare: Mulch around base to conserve moisture. Protect saplings from browsing. Prune lightly in winter to maintain shape.
12. Good for Urban or Garden Setting?
Urban: Excellent – highly tolerant of pollution, compacted soils, and pruning; widely used for street planting.
Garden: Suitable for medium to large gardens; not ideal for small gardens due to size. Provides attractive autumn colour.