Katsura Tree Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Katsura Tree:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ser-sid-ih-FIL-um juh-PON-ih-kum
- Description
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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. It is a medium-size deciduous tree that has a full, dense, pyramidal habit when young and great variability with age including low stiff arching branches. The bark is shaggy on old trunks, with loose ends. Members of the Cercidiphyllum genus produce 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'.
Plant this tree in the full sun in moist, organically rich, well-drained soil and it requires ample water for establishment. New leaves are reddish purple, mature to green and then the leaves turn apricot yellow in the fall before falling off. The decaying fall leaves smell like caramel/burnt sugar or cotton candy. 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. It is great for large spaces like parks, golf courses, commercial sites or as a street tree;
Quick ID Hints:
- Tree, fall foliage fragrant, apricot-yellow
- Leaves opposite, heart-shaped
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insects or disease problems. Drought and wind can stress this tree. It has poor leaf color in alkaline soils. It can be difficult to transplant.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Aureum'
- 'Heronswood Globe'
- 'Ruby'
Weeping - 'Aureum'
- 'Aureum', 'Heronswood Globe', 'Pendulum', 'Ruby'
- Tags:

























- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Aureum'
- 'Heronswood Globe'
- 'Ruby'
Weeping - 'Aureum'
- 'Aureum', 'Heronswood Globe', 'Pendulum', 'Ruby'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cercidiphyllum
- Species:
- japonicum
- Family:
- Cercidiphyllaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is light, soft and fine-grained so has been used in Japan to making furniture, cabinetry, and paneling.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Wildlife Value:
- Insect pollinators
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Shade
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Multi-trunked
- Oval
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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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 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 by splitting open. There are 2-4 on pedicel, the seeds paper thin and winged.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Insignificant flowers are produced on dioecious (having separate male and female) trees. Female flowers are small and green male flowers are red. They appear in early spring for only a week and are wind-pollinated. Dioecious; male flowers with calyx & numerous stamens; female flower with 4 winged sepals, 4-6 carpels.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Obtuse
- Ovate
- Reniform
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Short shoots bear simple opposite to subopposite, 2"-4" leaves. They are broadly cordate (heart-shaped) or reniform, palmately webbed veined leaves with crenate, entire, or finely serrate margins. New leaves emerge reddish-bronze-purple; turn blue-green in summer; yellow to apricot fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Shaggy
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Older bark can be shaggy and scaly, younger bark has horizontal etches
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Thin, brown very branched stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Pollinators