Shade and Ornamental Trees: Cercidiphyllum (Katsura)

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Cercidiphyllum japonicum

Katsura is a medium to fast upright grower in youth becoming open and wider spreading with age. Very fine, delicate branches carry heart-shaped leaves that emerge reddish-purple in spring, maturing to medium green with a slight bluish tinge before turning shades of yellow orange/apricot to red early in the season. The leaves resemble that of Redbud, but smaller, about 8cm long and wide. On warm days, and in fall, the leaves seem to give off a toffee-like or burned sugar-like aroma. Flowers and fruit are not showy. Tolerant of drought.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Claim Jumper'

Beautiful golden foliage emerges a soft pink in the spring and sets the Golden Katsura apart from other Katsura cultivars. The Golden Katsura is full sun tolerant but would prefer protection from the afternoon sun to prevent sun scorching.

Cercidiphyllum (japonicum) magnificum 'Pendulum'

Weeping Katsura Tree (aka Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Morioka Weeping') as a young tree develops a strong leader and shows signs of only moderate weeping. The weeping form develops as the tree matures, looking much like a weeping green beech. The heart shaped leaves open in spring with a reddish-purple, turning to a blue-green in summer and changing to beautiful yellow, orange and apricot shades in fall. Tree needs some watering during dry weather.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Morioka Weeping'

A favourite specimen, Morioka Weeping Katsura creates a waterfall like effect in the landscape. In spring buds break from a bronze colouration into light green and mature to beautiful blue green. Spectacular bright yellow to orange fall colour.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Pendulum'

Weeping Katsura; there is great confusion between this and C. japonicum magnificum 'Pendulum'. Some sources say they are the same plant but at Specimen Trees we consider them as different selections. (see C. j.m.'Pendulum') C.j. 'Pendulum' is an outstanding weeping Katsura with an irregular canopy of branches. It does not have a strong leader and eventually will be wider than tall.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Raspberry'

Raspberry Katsura has an upright, pyramidal shape. This Katsura cultivar's heart-shaped foliage turns a raspberry red in fall.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Red Fox'

Red Fox Katsura has dusky red-purple spring growth which turns purply bronze green later in summer. Orange-bronze and yellow fall colours.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Strawberry'

Strawberry is a Katsura cultivar valued for its spectacular and reliable golden, peach and strawberry-red fall colours. New foliage emerges maroon before changing to green.