Katsura tree

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in warmer climates. Shelter from hot, drying winds.

Water

Keep the root zone consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply during dry spells, including after establishment; drought can cause early leaf fall.

Soil

Deep, fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal; avoid shallow, drought-prone ground.

Height

40-60 ft (12-18 m), sometimes taller with age

Spread

25-40 ft (7.5-12 m)

Foliage

Rounded to heart-shaped leaves emerge bronze or reddish purple, turn blue-green in summer, then yellow, apricot, orange or pink in autumn. Autumn colour varies with soil and weather; fallen leaves often release a caramel-like scent.

Growth

Moderate to fast where moisture is reliable.

Care needed

Medium

• Plant while dormant, when the soil is workable, keeping the root flare at ground level.
• Water deeply through the first two or three growing seasons and during later droughts.
• Maintain a 2-3 in (5-8 cm) organic mulch over the root zone, leaving the trunk clear.
• Top-dress with compost in spring; use fertiliser only if growth or a soil test indicates a need.
• Stake only if the root ball moves in wind, and remove supports once the tree is securely rooted.

Pruning. Prune lightly in late winter while dormant, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches. Establish the desired single-stemmed or multi-stemmed framework while young; avoid topping and unnecessary large cuts.

Late winter

Check the young tree's framework and remove damaged or crossing branches.

Spring

Refresh mulch and top-dress with compost, keeping material away from the trunk.

Late spring

Check ties and stakes; loosen tight ties and remove supports if roots are secure.

Summer

Water deeply during dry weather before leaves scorch or begin to fall.

Autumn

Enjoy the leaf colour and scent; collect healthy fallen leaves for leaf mould.

Late autumn

Plant in mild regions while the soil remains workable; in very cold regions, wait until spring.

• Use as a specimen in a generous lawn or open garden where its mature crown has room to develop.
• Place beside a woodland path to bring autumn colour and scented fallen leaves close to walkers.
• Combine with Japanese maples, ferns and shade perennials in a sheltered woodland garden.
• Plant near, but not in, a pond margin where the surrounding soil stays moist and drains freely.

Garden styles it suits: Japanese, Woodland, Sensory garden, Autumn colour, Grand estate and Pacific Northwest woodland.

Plant it with: Japanese maple, Hosta, Astilbe, Japanese forest grass, Lady fern and Japanese anemone.

Wildlife: The crown provides shelter and nesting sites for birds. Its small, wind-pollinated flowers are not a significant nectar source for pollinators.

• Drought stress causes scorched leaf edges and premature leaf fall: water the root zone deeply and maintain mulch.
• Late frost can blacken emerging leaves: choose a sheltered site outside frost pockets and wait for replacement growth before removing damaged shoots.
• Waterlogged soil can cause root decline: improve drainage before planting or choose a better-drained position.
• Hot, drying winds can damage foliage: provide shelter and afternoon shade in warmer regions.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No particular poisonous part is recognised, but species-specific animal safety information is limited; it is not an edible plant.

• Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)

  Redbud has alternate leaves with smooth margins and conspicuous pink spring flowers on bare branches. Katsura leaves are usually opposite or nearly opposite, with finely rounded teeth.

• Large-leaved katsura (Cercidiphyllum magnificum)

  This closely related tree generally has larger leaves with more coarsely rounded teeth and smoother bark. Young trees can be difficult to distinguish reliably without provenance.

Cercidiphyllum means redbud-like leaf, japonicum means Japanese, and katsura is the tree's Japanese name.

Propagation. Raise the species from seed, usually with a period of cold, moist stratification before spring sowing. Softwood cuttings can be rooted in early summer under controlled humidity, but success varies; named cultivars are usually propagated by specialist grafting or cuttings.

Accepted botanical name

Cercidiphyllum japonicum

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast and Japan.

Measured

Average height 2500 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.