Cercidiphyllum japonicum
katsura tree

Notes:

Foliage is only aromatic during leaf drop period, but it may be this tree's most striking feature; the scent is compared to burnt sugar, caramel, and/or cotton candy.

Acidic soil improves fall color; this is the only tree I've seen so far for which this is said to be the case, but multiple sources mention it, so I guess there must be something to it.

Pyramidal in youth; may spread more in maturity. Sunset and Cal Poly say slow-growing, but Stoecklein and UFL say fast and JerseyYards.org says medium to fast. Could this be a West vs. East thing?

Coarse root system benefits from root pruning. Stoecklein compares the broad and shallow root system to that of a maple, which is never a good sign, and UFL warns repeatedly of large surface roots, especially if soil is compacted.

UFL and Cal Poly disagree on branch strength.

Best protected from afternoon sun in hot areas.

'Morioka Weeping', a male clone, has won the PHS Gold Medal Award.

Sources: Sunset, Stoecklein, JerseyYards.org, Missouri BG, UFL, Cal Poly, Rutgers, UConn, Odenwald/Turner, Druse.

Tags:

acidic soil preferred
aromatic foliage
attracts:birds (ex-humming)
clay tolerant
compacted soil intolerant
deer resistant
dense canopy
dioecious
drought intolerant
exposure:full sun
exposure:part shade
fall color notable
fast-growing
form:multi-trunked
form:trainable to single trunk
form:tree
habit:conical/pyramidal
habit:oval
habit:rounded
habit:spreading/wide
part shade preferred
persistence:deciduous
pest/disease free
PHS Gold Medal Award
pruning required
rich soil preferred
roots:coarse/few
roots:high damage potential
roots:shallow
roots:wide-spreading
showy bark
type:broadleaf
use:screen
use:shade tree
use:specimen
use:street
water:regular
wind sensitive


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