London Planetree

Platanus x acerifolia

901 Lakeside Avenue

Charles Feil, Mayor of Coeur d’Alene in 1912, planted this tree when he built the house in approximately 1907. Feil’s granddaughter now lives in the house and a deck addition has put the tree at the "center" of family activities.

The planetree's most outstanding characteristic is its bark, which flakes off in large irregular patches to expose the creamy under-bark. The round, wooly fruit head gives this tree another common name of "button-ball tree".

The London Planetree is a hybrid between Oriental Planetree and American Sycamore. Such hybrids are highly variable. They achieved their fame by easily tolerating adverse urban conditions. Planetrees are mostly planted for shade, and being monumental when mature, they need ample space.

Nominated by: Frank & Mary Jo Crowder