A beautiful landscape plant, katsuratree has many desirable characteristics.  New leaves emerge an incredible purply-red color and as they mature, turn a soft blue-green that is very distinctive.  So is the lovely heart-shape, reminiscent of eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis, where katsuratree gets the name Cercidiphyllum).  The foliage generally looks good all summer but is only a precurser to the spectacle to come.  As autumn approaches and the weather turns colder, those beautiful leaves begin to change color from a placid sea-green to soft shades of yellow, orange and a most exquisite apricot.  As they fall, the air is laced with the most delicate, spicy-sweet scent, reminiscent of cotton candy.  Once bereft of leaves, katsura bark takes over the show with a beautiful pattern of slight exfoliation and medium gray color that is generally very handsome.  Weeping forms are available at most nurseries.

Katsuratree is native to China and Japan.

The tree pictured here is growing on the east side of Hamilton-Smith.  For other katsura locations on campus, click here.