the london plane is very tolerant of atmospheric pollution and root compaction, and for this reason it is a popular urban roadside tree. it was planted extensively in victorian times to weather the pollution of london. it is now extensively cultivated in most temperate latitudes as an ornamental and parkland tree, and is a commonly planted tree in cities throughout the temperate regions of the world, in london and many other cities. it has a greater degree of winter cold tolerance than "p. orientalis", and is less susceptible to anthracnose disease than "p. occidentalis". under the synonym "platanus" × "hispanica", the tree has gained the royal horticultural society of great britain's award of garden merit.