Sign 22
Katsura Tree
Cercidiphyllum
japonicum
- Bloom Time:
- Early Spring
- Family:
- Katsura (Cercidiphyllaceae)
- Form:
- Tree, Deciduous
Tree
Description: The Katsura tree’s heart-shaped leaves emerge reddish-purple in spring and change to a clear yellow or apricot color in autumn. Its tiny spring flowers appear before the leaves. The tree attracts bees and birds. It’s a deciduous tree approximately 40-60’ tall x 20-30’ wide.
In Japanese folklore, the Katsura is the tree said to grow on the moon. Its autumn leaves release a sweet caramel-like scent, while its fine-grained wood is prized for furniture, carving, and Go boards.
Photo: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
More plant info
What to look for
Katsura’s round, heart-shaped leaves come out reddish-purple in spring and turn yellow to apricot in fall. Walk by on a fall day: as the leaves drop they smell of burnt sugar or cotton candy, which gives it the nickname caramel tree.
Where it comes from
Katsura is native to China and Japan. In its homeland it can grow very large, up to about 150 feet, and in Japan it is still grown for timber used in building and woodworking.
Growing it at home
It likes moist soil and needs watering in dry summers, especially when young.
Sources
Guided tours of the arboretum are free, by appointment. Text Mary at 978-887-4202.