This tough yet majestic hybrid once made up over half of London's street and park trees, though it no longer dominates so heavily. Its popularity grew from thriving in challenging conditions, notably the smog and heavy air pollution of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century cities. Its bark regularly sloughs off its plates, which in those times were soot-coated, revealing pale fresh bark beneath.

Cultivated. Its origins are disputed, but most likely the hybrid arose spontaneously in mainland Europe, possibly Spain, hence the species epithet.

A fertile hybrid between Oriental Plane (p. xxx) and Western Plane (p. xxx). Monoecious, producing achenes in spherical seed balls. Long-lived (360 years).

Tall (40m+), fast-growing, often multi-stemmed with long, strong, tortuous limbs and a trunk buttressing with age. Street trees are often pollarded into knuckled limbs sprouting fine shoots. Bark scaly and plated, variously brown, cream, olive and blue-green, exfoliating to reveal fresh cream-yellow bark. Twigs with alternate red-brown buds. Leaves variable but always palmate and lobed, usually large (15-18cm) with 3-5 lobes. Achenes in spiky spherical seed-balls, 2-4 per stalk. Oriental Plane differs: deeper lobes, more seed-balls per stalk. Sycamore differs: opposite buds and leaves.

Usually propagated by cuttings, especially for specific cultivars. Generally very hardy, tolerating pollution, extreme cold and drought, but avoid waterlogged soils and heavy shade. Very windfirm, though massaria disease can cause sudden branch drop. Pollard when dormant (December to February) so the tree heals quickly and resists fungal infection. The seed hairs can cause respiratory issues. Several cultivars are bred for bark, crown, foliage colour and, critically, disease resistance, such as 'Bloodgood', 'Liberty' and 'Metzam'.

No notable associated wildlife, but provides shelter to urban wildlife and significant in green infrastructure.

The fungal disease massaria (Splanchnonema platani) is a significant burden on urban arboriculturists, causing sudden drop of very large branches, especially under drought stress, endangering people and property; the risk is often overstated and manageable with regular inspection, though risk-averse authorities sometimes resort to drastic removal and avoid replanting. A serious fungus, canker stain or plane wilt (Apiognomonia veneta), is spreading across mainland Europe and is of considerable future concern, alongside anthracnose and other diseases.

A superlative urban ornamental. Its timber is non-durable, structurally weak and typically pale, but when quarter-sawn or in burrs its exposed medullary rays create exquisite figure called 'lacewood' in the trade, used decoratively in high-end cabinet- and furniture-making.