Katsura Tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum

Other Common Name(s):

Japanese Judas Tree

Description

Cercidiphyllum is a genus containing two species of plants, both commonly called Katsura. They are the only members of the family Cercidiphyllaceae. The genus is native to Japan and China and it is one of the largest hardwoods in Asia. Katsura is the Japanese name for the tree. Medium-size deciduous tree; bark shaggy on old trunks, with loose ends. Cercidiphyllum produces spurs along its twigs. These are short stems with closely spaced leaves. The tree flowers in March or April and produces winged seeds. Several different cultivars are grown, including 'Aureum', 'Heronswood Globe', 'Pendula', and 'Ruby'.

The scientific name Cercidiphyllum refers to the close resemblance of the leaves to those of Cercis (redbuds) but these two unrelated genera can be distinguished easily as redbud leaves are alternate, not opposite.

Play Value: Wildlife Enhancement

Notes: Likes lots of water, decaying fall leaves scented like caramel/burnt sugar

Seed: Pod

Form: Pyramidal when young; full and dense; great variability with age; stiff arching branches

Quick ID Hints:

Tree, fall foliage reddish-purple
Leaves opposite, heart-shaped

Requires ample water for establishment; utilized in larger areas - golf courses, parks, commercial sites, occasionally a street tree; fall leaf color reddish-purple, odor of "cotton candy"; poorer color on alkaline soils. Difficult to transplant; requires rich, moist, well-drained soils; pH adaptable.

Cultivars / Varieties:

'Aureum'
'Heronswood Globe'
'Pendula'
'Ruby'

Tags:

#fragrant #deciduous #fall color #shade tree #bark #playground #children's garden #pollinator plant #fantz

Cercidiphyllum japonicium whole tree — Geneva Wirth CC BY-NC 2.0

Cercidiphyllum japonicium bark — Harum Koh CC-BY-SA 2.0

Cercidiphyllum japonicium leaves — Wendy Cutler CC BY 2.0

Cercidiphyllum japonicium fall color — S. Rae CC BY 2.0

Katsura Tree at Morris Arboretum Lucy Bradley CC0

Katsura leaf — Katsura leav Lucy Bradley CC0

The back of a Katsura leaf Lucy Bradley CC0

Cultivars / Varieties:

'Aureum'
'Heronswood Globe'
'Pendula'
'Ruby'

Tags:

#fragrant #deciduous #fall color #shade tree #bark #playground #children's garden #pollinator plant #fantz

Attributes:
Genus:

Cercidiphyllum

Species:

japonicum

Family:

Cercidiphyllaceae

Play Value:

Attracts Pollinators

Shade

Dimensions:

Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.

Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.

Whole Plant Traits:
Plant Type:

Tree

Leaf Characteristics:

Deciduous

Habit/Form:

Arching

Pyramidal

Spreading

Growth Rate:

Medium

Texture:

Medium

Cultural Conditions:
Light:

Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

Soil Drainage:

Good Drainage

Moist

Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:

4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

Fruit:
Fruit Color:

Brown/Copper

Green

Display/Harvest Time:

Fall

Fruit Type:

Capsule

Fruit Length:

1-3 inches

Fruit Description:

The seed is inside a pod type fruit. The the fruit that follows is a cluster of 2-4 small pods with numerous small, flattened and winged seeds. The fruits mature in autumn and release their seeds in autumn through winter. 2-4 on pedicel, elongate capsules ; seeds paper thin & winged.

Flowers:
Flower Color:

Green

Flower Bloom Time:

Spring

Flower Description:

Insignificant flowers are produced on dioecious (having separate male and female) trees. They appear in early spring and are wind-pollinated. Dioecious; male flowers with calyx & numerous stamens; female flower with 4 winged sepals, 4-6 carpels.

Leaves:
Leaf Characteristics:

Deciduous

Leaf Color:

Blue

Gold/Yellow

Green

Purple/Lavender

Leaf Value To Gardener:

Long Bloom Season

Showy

Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:

Gold/Yellow

Orange

Leaf Type:

Simple

Leaf Arrangement:

Opposite

Leaf Shape:

Cordate

Obtuse

Ovate

Reniform

Leaf Margin:

Serrate

Hairs Present:

No

Leaf Length:

1-3 inches

Leaf Description:

Short shoots bear broadly cordate or reniform, palmately veined leaves with crenate margins; long shoots bear elliptic to broadly ovate leaves with entire or finely serrate margins. 2-4 in. opposite, simple, rounded leaves; new leaves emerge reddish-purple; turn blue-green in summer; yellow to apricot fall color. opposite to subopposite, suborbicular to heart-shaped, crenate-serrate, obtuse, cordate.

Bark:
Bark Color:

Dark Brown

Light Brown

Surface/Attachment:

Shaggy

Stem:
Stem Is Aromatic:

No

Landscape:
Landscape Location:

Recreational Play Area

Landscape Theme:

Children's Garden

Pollinator Garden

Design Feature:

Shade Tree

Attracts:

Pollinators