Largest trees

A selection of the largest or best trees in London can be found at Trees for Cities (Great Trees of London).

Specimen trees

The following specimens in Greater London have been chosen whenever possible for accessibility and because they show each tree's characteristics well. Some of the trees listed on this page are also described on the article for each type of tree.

Ordnance Survey map locations are given for most of these trees at the end of the descriptions, to 100m accuracy.

For a few trees, references are also given to higher accuracy, nominally 1 meter, in coordinate pairs form e.g., (512300,145600). However, accuracy of better than 10 meters should not be expected in practice.

P. x acerifolia

I have not treated this group as a clearly defined type. See the varieties 'London Form' and 'Pyramidalis' for specific trees. Most trees in London would however be included in this general taxon.

P. 'Augustine Henry'

• Central London - There are trees in St. James Park (according to Bean).
• North London - there are two trees on Ducketts Common, London N8. One is just to the north of the playground, TQ315896, (531548,189591). The other by West Green Road, close to the pavement, TQ317894, (531709,189400).
• East London - In Canning Town, some young trees stand close to the road on the large green on the south side of Star Lane, E16, TQ398820. There are young trees also on the Lea Bridge Road, such as on the south west side of the Lea crossing, TQ354865.
• South London - in Wandle Park, Colliers Wood. Two mature trees, in a line of other planes, extending north from the entrance from Baltic Close. TQ267704 (526709,170470).
• West London - Several trees stand in the roundabout at the junction of the A4 and the A406/A205, on the north side of the flyover. TQ194784.

P. 'London form' - London Plane

• Central London contains numerous trees.
  • Green Park, in the double avenue running from north from Queen Victoria Memorial has good specimens mixed with P. 'Pyramidalis', where the two can be compared. TQ290801.
  • Good mature specimens can be seen in many of the older squares in Central London; look at Manchester Square, Soho Square
  • Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens; for instance, most of the trees in Hyde Park adjoining Park Lane, eg. TQ282804, and in the central divider of Park Lane itself.
• East London - there are many good specimens on the parkland in Lea Bridge, Hackney (off Lea Bridge Road, such as by Chatsworth Road, TQ355863).
• North London - two fine specimens on Kenwood House Grounds, Hampstead Heath, between Kenwood House and the lake. TQ274873.
• South London - Ravensbury Park, Morden. Good massive mature specimens on the south boundary near the River Wandle. There are younger trees as well, and one large old specimen near the playground that has unfortunately been pollarded. TQ266681.
• Other good specimens can be found in many parks including Waterlow Park, Highgate; Regent's Park.

P. orientalis

• Central London -
  • Some large trees can be found in Green Park, in the dense group by the gates by Queen Victoria Memorial. As they are crowded by other trees, the crowns are high and foliage cannot be reached (TQ291799).
  • On the west pavement of Victoria Embankment, at the junction with Horseguards Avenue, a tree on each side of Horseguards Avenue (TQ303801).
• North London - two specimens stand in a shrub planting in Priory Road, Hornsey, N8, on the north side of the road, immediately adjacent to, and on the east side of, the junction with Redston Road. TQ296893.
• South London - Two specimens of P. orientalis stand in a shrub bed in the car park of Sainsbury's store, Balham. TQ287732, (528664,173236).
• West London -
  • There are (probably) several trees at Kew. See the notes on the different forms that are given this name at Kew and outside.
  • Ealing Common. On the south side of Uxbridge Road, between Wulverton Gardens and the North Circular Road, by the kerb, a mature specimen of P. orientalis (TQ187805).

P. orientalis 'Digitata'

• Central London - Kensington and Chelsea council has recently planted a good number of specimens on road sides (such as on Kensington High Street near the station, Kings Road, Chelsea, and by the vicinity of the library behind Kensington High Street). None of these trees are beyond the semi mature stage yet. TQ255797
• North London - Pymmes Park, Edmonton. A young tree stands on the west perimeter of this park. TQ336937, (533600,193673).
• South London - several young trees have been planted in Merton; for instance in Rowan Road, Streatham Park.

P. orientalis 'Hackney Form'

• Central London - there are good specimens in the gardens, by the Embankment and outside Embankment station, on either side of the railway bridge. Also in Hyde Park, especially west of the Old Police Station.
• North and East London - several trees on Clapton Common, on the greens between Craven Walk and Spring Hill. Hackney Downs, by Queensdown Road. TQ346857.
• South London - two trees in Kennington Park. Also a good specimen on Wandsworth Common, by Sandgate Lane. TQ272731.

P. orientalis insularis

• Kew Gardens - a single young mature specimen, to the east of the Temperate House.

P. 'Pyramidalis'

• Central London - Good specimens can be seen in Green Park (see under London Plane, above). Most of the trees in Sloane Square are this variety.
• North London - many of the trees that line either side of Clapton Common including the green on the north side of the road.
• South London - some trees in Kennington Park.

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18-Jun-2007