Weeping Chinese Pagoda Tree Styphnolobium japonicum 'Pendula'
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Sophora japonica 'Pendula'
- Phonetic Spelling
- styf-noh-LOH-bee-um juh-PON-ih-kum PEN-du-lah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Weeping Chinese pagoda is a smaller and weeping form of Styphnolobium japonicum, a slow growing, flowering, small tree in the Fabaceae (bean) family. The S. japonicum species will typically reach a height of 75 feet at maturity, but the 'Pendula' cultivar will reach only a third of that height. In its native environment, it can be found in open country in western China but, despite its species name japonicum, not in Japan. Although not native to Japan, the species name reflects the early use of the tree in Japan around Buddhist temples. Its weeping form is graceful and the fragrant flowers make it an excellent specimen for a small space or Asian garden or in a space where it can be admired.
Plant in the full sun to partial shade in rich, moist well-drained sandy loams in full sun to part shade. To maximize flowering, it is best to plant in full sun. This tree will tolerate city pollutants and urban conditions and, once established, heat and some drought. Styphnolobium japonicum is slow-growing, and new saplings may take as long as 10 years to flower. The 'Pendula' cultivar rarely flowers or produces fruits.
As the tree ages, the branches droop and can require pruning for clearance under the canopy. It typically grows with multiple trunks, but can be trained to become a single trunked tree. It has a resistance to damage from storms.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Potato leafhoppers can damage young stems, causing breakage Twig blight, verticillium wilt, canker, powdery mildew, and rust may occur.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Styphnolobium
- Species:
- japonicum
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The flowers and leaves are sometimes used in teas.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western China
- Distribution:
- Japan, Europe, North America, South Africa
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterflies are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Screening
- Textural
- Edibility:
- Contains cytosine, which is similar to nicotine.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Cascading
- Rounded
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Bean pods with 1 to 6 seeds that have constrictions between making it knobby 3 to 8 inches long that start off green and mature to brown in fall and persist into winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flower production is rare.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Pinnately compound leaves to 10 inches long with 7 to 10 oval glossy dark green leaflets. Remains attractive throughout the growing season. Leaves retain green color late into fall, resulting in no fall color or at best an undistinguished greenish yellow. Good yellow fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Its young green stems stay green for several years and then turn dark gray as they age.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Patio
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Screen/Privacy
- Shade Tree
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Pollution
- Salt
- Storm damage
- Urban Conditions
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans