Hoyt Arboretum, Portland, Oregon, USA

Common name: Katsura tree

Family: Cercidiphyllaceae

Distribution: China, Japan

Habitat: Temperate forests, beech forests in Japan

IUCN Red list: Least concern

Hardiness: Zone 4a -30 to -25 F

Life form: Deciduous tree

Usage: Ornamental

Comments: Katsura is a deciduous, single or multi-trunked, understory tree with a dense, rounded habit that typically matures to 40-60’ tall in cultivation, but can reach 100’ or more in the wild, native to Japan and China. It is grown for its beautiful shape and its attractive foliage. Cordate, round-oval leaves to 4” long resemble those of a small redbud (Cercis sp.). Leaves emerge reddish purple in spring, mature to medium green with a slight bluish tinge in summer and turn quality shades of gold, orange and red in fall. Although not aromatic, the fallen autumn leaves have been varyingly described as smelling of cinnamon, burnt sugar or ripe apples. Tiny flowers, red on male trees and green on female trees, appear in spring before the foliage but are not particularly showy. Pollinated flowers on female trees are followed by clusters of greenish pods to 3/4” long.
Best grown in rich, moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.