Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Katsura Tree
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Cercidiphyllum genus in the family Cercidiphyllaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Cercidiphyllaceae
- Genus
- Cercidiphyllum
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 30 m
- Spread
- 15 m
- Fertility
- self sterile
- Flower type
- dioecious
Uses
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Wood - light, soft, not strong, fine grained. It is a highly valued timber and is used for furniture, the interior finishes of buildings, boxes etc[3][6][7].
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China, Japan.
- Habitat
- Grows in woodlands in Japan but in China it is mainly found in open situations in rich moist soils at 1600 - 2800 metres[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[5]. Sow stored seed in a greenhouse in late winter[8]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Layering in autumn. Takes 12 months. High percentage[8]. Basal cuttings, 15cm long, taken from May to July[5]. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a moist woodland soil in a position free from spring frosts[1][5]. Tolerates some lime but it is probably best in an acidic soil[5]. Dislikes dry soils[5]. Succeeds in full sun or semi-shade[4]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -20°c, but it prefers a continental climate and can be excited into premature growth in the mild maritime climate of Britain when the young growth is then very susceptible to frost damage[3][4][5]. There is usually no lasting harm from this damage[4]. Rarely more than a bush in much of Britain according to one report[1] whilst another says that there are trees 18 metres tall in W. Britain[3]. A fast growing tree, it tends to grow with a number of stems[5]. Plants produce richer autumn colours when grown on acid soils, the fallen leaves smell like burnt toffee[4]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[5].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Wilson. E. H. Plantae Wilsonae.
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00