Platanus racemosa

A very large, deciduous tree that originates from California. Its trunk is gray and smooth and peels off in large strips that reveal white spots and make the color of the trunk mottled in shades of green-gray-cream-white, an interesting and attractive appearance. The trunk tends to fork at a tall height, and then it splits into smaller branches, so that when the tree is bare of leaves, it has a sculptural structure. Platanus racemosa’s foliage is fresh; its large, broad leaves have 3 to 5 lobes, resembling maple leaves. They are hairy on the bottom. These hairs can cause irritation and coughing on contact, but not when one is just near the tree. Its fall display is yellow and handsome. The tree’s fruit are spheres that hang from the tree in small clusters of 1–3 each. It is resistant to heat and heatwaves and is not sensitive to cold. It requires a good watering a few times in summer to keep its foliage looking vital. However, when the rainy season runs late, it may suffer from various foliage fungi. Despite its fast rate of growth, it is long-lived.

Other trees in the same family: Platanus mexicana | Platanus racemosa | Platanus × acerifolia ‘Yuval’