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

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
Gluing
Screw / nail hold
Steam bending

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.