Cercidiphyllum japonicum – Katsura Tree

Cercidiphyllum japonicum is an elegant deciduous specimen tree offering beautiful heart-shaped leaves, layered branching and exceptional autumn interest.

The foliage emerges bronze or pink-tinted, becomes blue-green during summer and develops shades of yellow, apricot, pink and red in autumn. As the leaves fall, they may release a distinctive fragrance reminiscent of burnt sugar, caramel or candyfloss.

Available in standard and multi-stem forms, Katsura makes an outstanding focal point for generous lawns, sheltered gardens and planting beside water.

Product Highlights

• Attractive heart-shaped foliage

• Bronze or pink-tinted spring growth

• Blue-green summer leaves

• Exceptional autumn colour

• Sweetly scented falling leaves

• Elegant layered crown

• Standard and multi-stem forms

• Fully hardy

• Moderate growth rate

• Low routine pruning requirement

• Excellent specimen-tree character

Product Information

Feature / Details
Botanical name: Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Common name: Katsura tree
Family: Cercidiphyllaceae
Plant type: Deciduous specimen tree
Mature height: Approximately 10–15 metres
Mature spread: Approximately 6–10 metres
Growth rate: Moderate
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Soil: Deep, fertile and moisture-retentive
Drainage: Freely draining
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Autumn colour: Yellow, apricot, pink and red
Autumn scent: Burnt sugar or caramel
Maintenance: Low

Suitable For

• Large lawns

• Generous gardens

• Sheltered specimen positions

• Multi-stem feature planting

• Woodland-style landscapes

• Planting beside ponds and water features

• Fertile moisture-retentive ground

• Autumn-interest planting schemes

• Architectural planting viewed from the house

When We Would Not Recommend It

Katsura is not normally suitable for:

• Small or narrowly confined gardens

• Hot, dry or shallow soil

• Severely compacted ground

• Permanently waterlogged planting areas

• Exposed upland positions

• Severe coastal exposure

• Sites without reliable watering

• Locations requiring evergreen screening

Size and Supply Form

Depending on availability, Cercidiphyllum japonicum may be offered as:

• Container-grown trees

• Rootballed trees

• Standards

• Heavy standards

• Multi-stem specimens

• Semi-mature trees

A standard provides greater clearance beneath the crown. A multi-stem specimen creates lower layered branching and a stronger sculptural feature.

Use our specimen tree sizes explained guide when comparing nursery measurements.

Our guide to mature trees versus younger trees explains the differences in immediate impact, cost and establishment.

Rootballed or Container-Grown?

Container-grown Katsura trees offer a wider planting window where irrigation is available.

Rootballed specimens are normally supplied during the cooler planting season and require careful handling to protect the root system from drying.

Read our rootball versus container-grown guide before ordering.

Planting Requirements

Plant in deep, fertile soil that retains moisture while allowing surplus water to drain away.

Full sun is suitable where moisture remains dependable. Partial shade may be preferable where the tree would otherwise experience hot sun, dry soil or drying wind.

Keep the root flare visible at finished soil level and apply mulch without covering the trunk or stems.

Water thoroughly after planting and maintain regular irrigation throughout dry periods.

Follow our tree planting and establishment guide for detailed instructions.

Professional specimen-tree delivery and planting is available for larger standards and multi-stem specimens.

Pruning and Maintenance

Katsura requires little routine pruning.

Remove damaged, crossing or poorly attached branches while cuts remain small. Avoid hard pruning and retain the tree’s naturally elegant, layered crown.

Relevant minimal-pruning advice is available in our RHS Pruning Group 1 guide.

Our Recommendation

We recommend Cercidiphyllum japonicum for generous, sheltered gardens where deep soil and dependable moisture are available.

Choose a standard where clearance is important or a multi-stem specimen where low architectural branching and immediate visual impact are preferred.

Delivery and professional planting

We can install specimen trees at any of the in following postcodes;

BB, BL, CH1 - CH5, CW8, CW9, FY, L, LA1 - LA6, M, OL, PR, SK1 - SK12, WA, & WN.

Please do not purchase if you want the hedging installed outside this area. If you do live outside the area, then please give us a call on 01942 604976 and we can see if it’s possible to do this.

For more information on the tree see the tree specification below. For more information about delivery, access and planting, see the guide below or click here.