Platanus x hispanica Malburg

Platanus x hispanica 'Malburg' is a selection of plane tree with maple-like leaves, interesting for its elegant, relatively narrow and sparse crown, more suitable for planting in avenues. This deciduous tree, with large growth and beautiful palmate leaves, has pleasantly coloured autumn leaves and its trunk is covered with a characteristic bark that peels off in large flakes. Rapid growing, hardy, well adapted to summer drought, it will be appreciated for the light shade it provides in summer.

The Common plane tree is the result of the hybridization of the Western plane tree (Platanus occidentalis), native to North America, and the Eastern plane tree (Platanus orientalis) native to Southeast Europe and Western Asia. This crossbreeding took place in Spain (hence the name Platanus hispanica), but also in England around 1650. Almost sterile, this hybrid produces very few viable seeds and mainly multiplies through cuttings. Its lifespan is counted in hundreds of years. 'Malburg' was selected in 1981 in Huissen, Netherlands, by the Dutch Ministry of Inspection.

The 'Malburg' plane tree will reach about 25m (82ft) in height with a spread of 18m, depending on the growing conditions. It grows rapidly and develops a wide, slender, robust trunk. Its crown is oval-shaped, wide and airy, supported by sturdy main branches. The characteristic bark cracks into large plates, revealing lighter areas. This plane tree has tough, glossy fairly light green leaves, reaching 20-25cm (8-10in) wide, divided into 3 or 7 pointed and slightly toothed lobes. They turn yellow and then brown in autumn before falling. They decompose very slowly, often requiring gardeners to spend long hours collecting them. In spring, the young shoots are covered with light brown hairs that can be irritating to the eyes, throat, and respiratory system. The flowering, with its unusual appearance, takes place in May: the flowers are gathered in 'pompoms' suspended on long stems.  On plane trees, female and male flowers are separate but present on the same tree. After wind pollination, the female flowers produce tiny fruits called achenes, surrounded by a down. These curious pompom-like infructescences persist on the branches long after the leaves have fallen.

The 'Malburg' plane tree, is very hardy and easily adapts to any deep soil, including polluted urban areas or very dry regions, and it can withstand pruning if done properly. All these qualities make it an excellent park, shade, or row tree.  Depending on the cultivars, plane trees can be more or less susceptible to several exotic pests and diseases: two deadly fungi that cause canker disease and black spots, as well as the plane tree bug, a sucking insect considered a likely vector of these diseases.  As is often the case, these epidemics are favoured by overcrowding as well as mass pruning carried out without particular precautions. The plane tree remains a very interesting plant , hosting a whole little-known fauna under and on its unusual and characteristic bark.