They were so common in the British capital that they became known as ‘London Planes’ – and the name stuck.
After being planted greedily by the Victorians, London plane trees flourished and are now the most common tree in the capital.
But while their distinctive flaky bark makes them an instantly recognizable sight, London planes are known to be among the causes of hay fever, which plagues millions of Britons during the summer months.
In addition to the pollen they produce, they shoot hairs, called trichomes, at the same time grass pollen levels are at their highest. The bristles are also known to make people cough and irritate the skin.
While some London plane trees date back to the 18th century, it is those lining the Embankment – planted systematically in 1870 – that have marked the Victorian imagination.
Today they line many of the capital’s streets and can also be seen in many of London’s most popular green spaces, including Hyde Park.
Pollen counts were high across England last weekend, prompting many to document their misery on social media.
They were so common in the British capital that they became known as ‘London Planes’ – and the name stuck. Above: London planes line London Dock in the late 19th century
Today, plane trees line many streets in the capital and can also be seen in many of London’s most popular green spaces, including Hyde Park.
According to a survey last year, almost half of the UK population is struggling with the disease, almost double the number previously thought.
It was previously estimated that hay fever affected up to 13 million people in the UK, or 30% of the population.
The plane tree is easily identifiable thanks to its characteristic bark which flakes off in large flakes. Its leaves resemble those of a sycamore.
As well as London planes, oaks, birches and ashes – all of which are popular in green spaces across Britain – are associated with hay fever symptoms.
Among the oldest planes in the capital are those in Berkeley Square in Mayfair. They date from 1789.
By contrast, the planes that line the south bank of the London Eye at Oxo Tower were planted after the Festival of Britain in 1951, making them relatively young youngsters.
The oldest London planes in England, at Buckden, Cambridgeshire, date from 1660. They are said to have been presented to the then Bishop of Lincoln, Robert Sanderson.
Another London plane dating from the 17th century is in Ely.
London’s oldest and largest plane is in Barn Elms in west London and is believed to date from 1685. It was planted on land owned by the then Archbishop of Canterbury.
The precise origins of the London planes are not known, they did not originate in London or the UK.
Most botanists agree that it is a hybrid between the oriental plane tree and the American sycamore.
Before being systematically planted in the late 19th century, London planes were largely confined to plazas and promenades.
After the development of the Embankment, London planes were planted at a rapid rate in the capital, and then throughout the country and elsewhere.
Writing in a blog for the Southbank Centre, historian Paul Wood said of the London Plane: ‘London’s love affair with the hybrid plane began at the dock.
“It has become an icon of the modern city and has been recorded in countless 19th century photographs and paintings.”
In addition to the pollen they produce, the spiky fibers of plane tree seeds form a dust that causes coughing symptoms.
Among the oldest planes in the capital are those in Berkeley Square in Mayfair. They date from 1789. Above: Plane trees in Berkeley Square
A 1905 Daily Mail report noted how “every street strewn with bricks and planes” was a surprise to people visiting London. He added that “the plane has thrived much better in London than any other forest tree”
Work on the Victoria Embankment began in 1865 and was completed in 1870. It became a model for the countless other tree-lined thoroughfares that now exist in London.
In 2019, Melbourne authorities decided to remove plane trees from the city’s central business district in part due to the impact they were having on the health of some residents.
In Sydney, planting plane trees has faced opposition from locals who say they cause hay fever symptoms. The inhabitants have launched a “more plane trees” action group.
Before being systematically planted in the late 19th century, London planes were largely confined to plazas and promenades. Above: Hyde Park in the early 19th century
Plane trees are seen in Kennington Park, south London. Trees can reach 115 feet and live for several hundred years
After the development of the Embankment, London planes were planted at a rapid pace in the capital, then throughout the country and elsewhere
According to a survey last year, nearly half of the UK population suffers from hay fever, almost double the number previously thought.
Professor Robyn O’Hehir, an allergy specialist at Monash University in Melbourne, has previously said that plane trees can cause throat irritation even in people who are not prone to allergies.
She warned Melbourne residents to “avoid prominent areas of plane trees”.
“People often need water or a bite of bread to clear fine particles from their throats,” she said.
University of Melbourne botanist Ed Newbigin added that plane trees can cause “eye and skin irritation”.