Katsura tree
Cercidiphyllum japonicum Siebold & Zucc.
Also known as: Caramel tree
Family: Cercidiphyllaceae
15 to 25 m tall
Planted as a specimen, cool, deep soils
Flowering: March – April, inconspicuous, before the leaves
Full sun
Part shade
Hardy, to about -25°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
In autumn, the fallen leaves of the katsura tree give off a surprising, distinct scent of hot sugar or candyfloss, due to an aromatic compound released as they break down — a phenomenon behind its nickname of "caramel tree".
🍃 Leaves
Deciduous, heart-shaped and rounded, blue-green in summer, turning yellow and pink in autumn
🌸 Flowers
Inconspicuous, without petals, plant most often dioecious
🍎 Fruits
Small elongated follicles, grouped in several.
🪵 Bark
Grey-brown bark; young twigs often reddish to brownish.
🗺️ Distribution
Native to Japan and China; planted in France as a collector's ornamental tree
🐝 Value for pollinators
Inconspicuous, early flowering, little direct interest for pollinators
✂️ Horticultural uses
Ornamental tree planted for its golden autumn foliage and the characteristic scent of caramelised sugar given off by the fallen leaves
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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