Platanus × acerifolia
London Plane
Quartersawn London Plane reveals lacewood: large medullary rays catch the light in dense, scaly flecks. The slab's signature, and its whole reason for being on this list.
Grown commercially in EuropeFamily: Platanaceae
Tree
Platanus × acerifolia is the hybrid planted along avenues and squares across Europe — Paris, Milan, Sofia, every London street. KORENA sources it from urban forestry: trees removed for safety, age, or development, then milled rather than chipped. The provenance is local, traceable, and tells a story buyers respond to.
Wood appearance
Straight grain, fine-to-medium texture, pinkish-brown heartwood that warms with age. Flatsawn faces are quiet and clean. Quartersawn is where it earns its name in the trade — lacewood — with broad ray flecks that read almost like snakeskin under finish. Two faces of the same board can look like two different woods.
- Heartwood pinkish-brown to light reddish-tan
- Sapwood pale cream, often left in for contrast
- Quartersawn rays appear as darker flecks against the background
- Warms and deepens under oil; ambers slightly with age
- Flatsawn and quartersawn faces of one board can look like different species
- Straight; lacewood figure on quartersawn faces.
Mechanical properties
| Density (kg/m³) | 500–620 kg/m³ |
|---|---|
| Janka hardness (N) | 3,800–4,600 N |
| MOR: modulus of rupture (MPa) | 70–80 MPa |
| MOE: modulus of elasticity (GPa) | 8.0–10.0 GPa |
| Radial shrinkage | 5.5–6.5 % |
| Tangential shrinkage | 9.5–11.0 % |
| Volumetric shrinkage | 15.0–17.0 % |
| Natural durability (EN 350) | Class 5 — Perishable |
Working with it
1 = difficult · 5 = excellent
Saws, sands, turns, and carves well. Planing is the one to watch: the medullary rays that make quartersawn faces beautiful also tear out under dull blades. Sharp tools, light cuts, and a finish scraper or 220-grit pass to clean up. Glues and screws without drama.
- Sawing
- Planing
- Sanding
- Turning
- Carving
Drying
Tangential shrinkage is high (around 10%) and roughly twice the radial figure, so cup and distortion are real risks. Dries best slowly, well-stickered, with weight on top. Once stable it holds shape indoors, but it's not a wood to rush through a kiln.
Finishing
Takes oil and hardwax oil cleanly. The lacewood figure deepens dramatically under any clear finish — test on an offcut before committing, because the contrast jumps. Stains can muddy the rays; we'd avoid them. Sand to 180–220 and stop.
Durability and safety
- Class 5 — Perishable
- Food contact safe
Not commonly flagged as a dust irritant or sensitiser. Standard shop dust extraction is enough. Food-contact safe once finished — fine for boards and serving pieces.
Best uses
- Quartersawn tabletops where the lacewood figure is the feature
- Cabinet door panels and drawer fronts
- Wall panelling and feature joinery
- Turned bowls and hollow forms
- Serving boards and kitchen pieces (interior, finished)
- Veneer-look solid furniture
Pairs and substitutes
Pairs well with
Often substituted for
Sourcing and sustainability
- Grown commercially in Europe
- IUCN: NE — Not Evaluated
Decay class 5 (perishable) — interior use only; it won't last outdoors. The hybrid is not IUCN-evaluated and carries no CITES listing. Sourcing is the strong story here: urban trees that would otherwise be chipped, given a second life as furniture. EUDR due diligence is in preparation and becomes mandatory for large operators from 30 December 2026, and the passport behind each slab QR is built to carry its provenance.
Buyer questions
Is London Plane a good choice for furniture?
London Plane is best matched to projects such as Quartersawn tabletops where the lacewood figure is the feature, Cabinet door panels and drawer fronts, Wall panelling and feature joinery, Turned bowls and hollow forms, Serving boards and kitchen pieces (interior, finished), Veneer-look solid furniture. The final choice should consider grain, finish, movement allowance, and the room where the piece will live.
How hard is London Plane?
The listed Janka value is 4,180 N and the density is 560 kg/m³. Use these as comparison signals, not as a guarantee of how a finished surface will wear.
What should I check before buying London Plane slabs online?
Check measured length, width stations, thickness, drying method, moisture notes, colour variation, defects, and origin. Compare the measured outline against the finished drawing before reserving the slab.
Current stock
London Plane pieces available now
Get notified about London Plane
We email you when fresh London Plane slabs land at KORENA. Each piece is one of one, so early notice matters.
Sources
- The Wood Database(accessed 2026-05-09)
- USDA FPL Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-190 (2010)(accessed 2026-05-09)
- Meier, E. — WOOD! Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide (2015)(accessed 2026-05-09)
