Japanese Pagoda Tree Styphnolobium japonicum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Sophora japonica
- Phonetic Spelling
- styf-noh-LOH-bee-um juh-PON-ih-kum
- Description
-
A showy flowering tree in the pea family It produces light shade; withstands heat, air pollution, and drought; leguminous; good street, park, or lawn tree.
Quick ID
- Spiny coriaceous* leaves
- Leaf apex spinose, pointing downward
- Lateral spines near leaf apex resemble bull horns
Previously known as Sophora japonica
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Pendula
- Regent
- Pendula
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Pendula
- Regent
- Pendula
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Styphnolobium
- Species:
- japonicum
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China and Korea
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Pieces Used in Games
- Shade
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- more than 60 feet
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 3"-8" long legume pod, pendulous
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Creamy white and lightly fragrant 6"-12" long terminal panicles that appear in mid to late summer. They are small, axillary, dull-white, male and female on different plants.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate pinnately compound 6"-10" long. Leaflets are ovate to lanceolate, 1"-2" long entire margins, rounded base acute axpex. The fall color is yellow.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Round
- Bark Description:
- Gray-brown developing into flat plates
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Pollution
- Urban Conditions
- Styphnolobium japonicum is often confused with:
-
Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii'
-
Ilex cornuta 'Dwarf Burford'
- Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens'
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
-
Magnolia x soulangiana
-
Koelreuteria paniculata
-
Acer platanoides
