Trees of the World
English name: | KATSURA TREE | ![]() |
Polish name: | GRUJECZNIK JAPOŃSKI | |
Latin name: | Cercidiphyllum japonicum Siebold et Zucc. | |
Natural habitat: | Japan, Central and Eastern China | |
Height: | in its natural habitat: up to 30 m, in Poland only up to 15 m | |
Characteristics: | A tree with a loose and regular crown, usually with many trunks and lots of leaves. Young leaves are red brown or violet at first, they turn bluish later on. In autumn, they turn yellow orange. As they fall, they emit a characteristic pleasant smell. The fruit is a tiny, coriaceous follicle, about 2 cm long, similar to a small pod. It grows best on fertile, marshy soils. Especially the younger individuals are susceptible to drought. It is a valuable and unique park tree. Katsura tree looks best in spring when small red flowers appear on the branches together with brown red leaves. | |
Additional information: | In autumn, its leaves emit a pleasant smell similar to cotton candy or freshly baked cake, hence the German name Kuchenbaum, that is, the cookie tree. |