Trees can vary significantly, but many variations are not of any
special interest. However a number of distinctive trees that could
not be classified or named are listed here. The first list below is
of some interesting specimens in London that cannot be fitted into
one of the described taxons. In some cases this may be because they
have not been properly identified. Some other noteworthy trees that
I am not certain of the name of are also included here. Following
that are some areas in the capital where trees of mixed forms are
found, generally only in roadside settings. Finally there is a list
of parks and gardens with collections of different tree types; this
variation may have occurred by chance.
Click on any button with the label 'Map' to view the tree or trees at its location in Google aerial imagery.
Individual trees
Barking, Rippleside Cemetery, has a tree near the main
entrance, probably a form of the Oriental plane, with distinctive
deeply cut leaves.
Bexley, car park for Hall Place Gardens. The car park
for this contains some distinctive young trees, the largest of
which is at the eastern end, near Bourne Road.
Belgravia, Eccleston Square (private square). Within the
gardens of the square there can be seen a very distinctive, pendulous form.
This square is private but the tree is visible from the
surrounding roads, from a few yards away.
East Finchley, City of Westminster Cemetery. Two
distinct oriental plane trees stand in the middle of this cemetery.
Both have leaves of which the shape is typical of oriental plane,
but they are glossy and thick unlike some other forms in London.
The eastern specimen of the two is rather yellower in foliage,
strong growing. Both had low branched contorted crowns and the
trunks suckering even in heavy shade. Unfortunately the trunks of
both are covered in ivy.
Edmonton, Tanners End Lane. On the housing estate car
park areas on the west side of Tanners End Lane, N18 are two trees
of distinct appearance. They have leaves with many teeth, sometimes
doubly toothed. The leaves are large, to 40cm across, thick, matt
and rough, pale green below, deeper green above. The leaves and
shoots are covered with a very dense coating of down or hairs, the
down remaining on the mature leaves in June. Stipules are
prominent. Shoots are thick and straight, light olive brown to
green in winter, with green buds. The branches are sinuous to
contorted. Bark does not peel and fall away but remains on the
tree, with all branches and trunk more than 5cm thick being covered
in bark fissured into small squares. Fruits about 25mm across, 2-5
on a stem. Some similar trees can be seen elsewhere, including
specimens of similar age at St. Mary's Garden in Pearson Street,
E2, both on the roadside frontage, and in the grounds behind the
site building.
Hoxton, St. Mary's Secret Garden has a couple of trees
resembling the ones described in Edmonton / Tanners End Lane, as described above. One is alongside Appleside Street, within the garden boundary.
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The other smaller one nearby, just off Pearson Street may be accessible when the garden is closed.
Hyde Park, Serpentine Road. On the south pavement of Serpentine Road opposite
the Cavalry memorial, there is a young mature tree of distinctive
columnar shape. Location approximately at 52807,180014 (OS
coordinates). It has a major fork, but it
still does not grow outward at that point as most planes do.
Kensington Gardens. To the south of the Round Pond and about 25m north and west of the bandstand,
there is a medium sized plane that in foliage somewhat resembles the
clone described on this website as 'Hackney'. It is clearly not that however,
and forms vigorous shoots without making very much height.
Kew, Royal Botanic Garden. The tree identified by Bean,
as possibly being the variety 'Palmata' and standing to the north
of King Williams Temple is a clearly distinct form, perhaps of P. orientalis.
Many other older trees on this site are distinctive and notable but
also similarly not precisely identified.
Richmond, Thames towpath. By Petersham Meadows. A group
of three close-set massive specimens, dark foliage at low levels, distinct from
other types. These trees are quite tall, and make a single
prominent mass, clearly visible from King Henry's mound in Richmond
Park. Other similar trees can be found along this towpath. These
may correspond to the form 'Westminster' While the foliage is typical of many planes, the combined crown of these three is yellowish compared to the surrounding trees.
Romford, Eastern Avenue. Beside the A12 trunk road, to
the east of the junction with Petits Lane, on a verge at the
junction with Rise Park Boulevard, is a youngish golden leaved
tree. The colour is distinctive enough to stand out in aerial
imagery. The tree is rather upright, though that is sometimes
characteristic of young trees. Crown diameter about 15m.
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Areas with unidentified trees
This section excludes other parks or gardens with collections of
known trees. These also often have unidentified trees planted alongside them.
See the collections page.
Chelsea Embankment, and other parts of the Embankment
downstream to Westminster. Along this road many of the trees appear
to be seed raised variants, few of any distinction, but different
from the more commonly seen forms. This has been referred to by
Bean, who suggests that these might be seed-raised specimens
imported from France, and planted in the 1860s and 1870s.
Chingford to Upper Walthamstow and adjacent areas; some
streets such as Wadham Road and Fulborne Road have been planted
with an unidentified variety, trees currently probably 20-25 years old.
Greenwich, former Naval College grounds - including
the surrounds of the National Maritime Museum, the University,
and adjacent areas between Greenwich Park and the river. These
contain contain a number of distinct forms, perhaps derived from
seed raised specimens. Most of these have been pollarded, so that
their true shape can no longer be seen.
Highgate, Pond Square contains some young unusual forms.
In particular, there is a densely foliaged, deeply lobed form,
resembling P. orientalis 'Digitata' somewhat in leaf shape, but
clearly distinct from it in many other characteristics. Several
other variable trees can be seen nearby, approaching and along
Highgate North Hill.
Hornsey, Priory Road. At its western end approaching
Muswell Hill there are several variable trees, probably mixed
types, including in the connecting roads on its north side.
Hyde Park Corner. On the island in the traffic
roundabout there are a mixture of different varieties, some
probably variants of the oriental plane. I believe that most of
these were originally a part of the Green Park plantings.
Islington, Angel. A number of somewhat unusual young
trees can be seen in the group at the junction of City Road and
Goswell Street. These have thick fissured bark, and leaves that are
not as hairy as most planes.
Kensington Road on the southeast corner of the junction
with Palace Road, there is a line of 4 trees in the pavement. These
have branches sinuous or even contorted, leaves palmate with deep
sinuses and some appearing seven lobed, lobes narrowed at the base
and with many teeth. There is also a line of distinctive trees
immediately adjacent to the above in Palace Road but behind the
property line and pruned too high to be sure if they are the same
variety. Possibily P. orientalis.
Kew Road in Kew and Richmond has several uncommon forms,
likely to be seed raised forms, some rather resembling the Oriental
plane.
Tooting, especially on roads around St. George's Hospital has
a mixture of forms, possibly seed-raised, planted on roadsides.