Cercidiphyllum – the sweet-scented tree that comes from the East

As its leaves break off in autumn, katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) releases a scent of caramel, closing a display of fire-like yellow, orange and red; in winter, regular up-and-down furrows in the bark take over. Give it rich soil that is never left to dry out, and it will ask for nothing else, not even pruning.

Cercidiphyllum at a glance

Name	Cercidiphyllum japonicum and Cercidiphyllum magnificum
Common names	katsura, caramel tree
Family	Cercidiphyllaceae
Type	medium-sized tree
Height	16-50 feet (5-15 m)
Exposure	full sun and part sun
Soil	rich is better
Foliage	deciduous
Flowering	none
Use	Japanese garden, bonsai

Simple guidelines for planting, care and pruning are only the beginning: discover the varieties and yummy tidbits that this species has in store for you!

Planting Cercidiphyllum

• Preferably in fall. This allows for root development during winter.
• Follow our advice on planting trees.

Key takeaways for proper planting include exposure and soil.

Proper exposure for Cercidiphyllum

Cercidiphyllum is happiest with a reasonable amount of light.

• In temperate climates, this usually means full sun.
• In tropical climates, this means part shade, under a larger tree.

Soil best suited for Cercidiphyllum

This is one of the easiest plants to satisfy.

• All it needs is rich soil that is not too subject to drought.

It can take on both acidic and alkaline soil, wet & waterlogged soil, and even salty soil. Heavy clay soil isn’t a problem, either.

Pruning Cercidiphyllum

• It isn’t necessary to prune it.
• It naturally branches out into a harmonious silhouette.

You may, if needed, reduce the size of the shrub or to balance growth in spring.

• When pruning, go ahead and collect cuttings to root them. This will give you many new seedlings that are identical in beauty to the original!

On weeping katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum f. pendulum, including the cultivar ‘Amazing Grace’), trimming the lowest branches back clear of the ground makes mowing easier and lets more light reach any turf beneath.

Multiplying Cercidiphyllum

Cercidiphyllum is a plant that can be multiplied in various ways.

From most successful to least successful, here are the techniques that work best:

• Seed propagation for cercidiphyllum
• Cercidiphyllum layering
• Cuttings prepared from cercidiphyllum

Find these methods described in this article: how to multiply cercidiphyllum.

Note that this is a dioecious plant. This means each tree is either male OR female, but not both. It isn’t self-fertile.

• To have seeds, you’d need one of each within the same neighborhood.
• Seeds would only appear on a female tree.

Remarkable Cercidiphyllum varieties

Actually, Cercidiphyllum is a small family (or genus, to be specific). Only two species are attached to it.

The more common one is Cercidiphyllym japonicum.

• It is the one most sold in nurseries across the planet.

However, the rarer Cercidiphyllum magnificum is also quite a stunner.

All the Cercidiphyllum varieties that are more or less easy to find: Cercidiphyllum varieties

• Cercidiphyllum magnificum is generally the smaller of the two Cercidiphyllum species, though at around 10 metres it still grows into a sizeable tree rather than a shrub, so it needs considerable room.
• Cercidiphyllum magnificum bears larger leaves that are more deeply heart-shaped at the base than those of C. japonicum, a difference commonly cited by growers as a way to distinguish the two species.

Cercidiphyllum varieties worth looking for

Beyond the plain species, a handful of katsura selections are offered by tree nurseries and garden centres, differing mainly in habit and in the colour of the young foliage. The table below sets out the ones you are most likely to be offered, and what each brings.

All there is to know about Cercidiphyllum

Cercidiphyllum is native to Asia. It is considered a tree that grows quickly.

• Fall is when it is clearly the most spectacular with fire-like hues of yellow, orange and red. As leaves break off, they release scented compounds that smell like caramel.

During the rest of the year, it bears cute tender green leaves and just before leaf appearance, a very light blooming.

In winter, it stays attractive thanks to its bark. Furrows form as the tree ages in a up-and-down pattern that draws attention and is appealingly regular.

• other trees that have beautiful bark

What Cercidiphyllum offers, season by season

This is a tree that earns its place all year round, but for a different reason each season. Here is what to expect and when.

Mulch laid at the foot of the tree carries it through both extremes, summer drought and winter cold.

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