Imagine a redbud tree 60 feet high and 30 feet high. What you are really looking at is a Katsura tree, or Cercidiphyllum japonicum, so named because of leaf similarities, but actually unrelated. Katsura leaves grow opposite each other on the branch, while redbud (Cercis) leaves are staggered.
Hailing from Japan and China, Katsura is one of Japans largest deciduous shade trees, when trained to a single trunk, and provides beautiful dappled shade. It can also be enjoyed as a multi-trunked tree with a graceful branching habitat. One of the greatest joys of four-season gardening is, well, four seasons. Katsura can be subtle at times, but, as a specimen tree, is a real showstopper throughout the year, as well as being a fast growing, pollution tolerant, pest and disease resistant, and shallow rooted (less likely to damage sidewalks, streets, and underground pipes).
Flowers are insignificant, and the show is really in the leaves. And a bonus is that the foliage has a clean, fresh appearance all season long. The heart-shaped leaves unfurl in bronze-purple hues, changing to bluish green shades for the summer. In late summer and fall, brilliant or subtle yellow, red, pink, orange, apricot and all hues in between provide a lovely show.
In addition, Katsura emits a subtle scent in the fall which is hard to describe, but has been called similar to fresh strawberries, caramelized sugar, cotton candy or cinnamon. Rake leaves, breathe deeply and jump in!
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