Orange red
The autumn colour, cordate shaped leaves and grooved bark, give this Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) its ornamental value. It has attractive leaves, budding bronze green, later dull green with a blue green underside. Striking are the pointed carmine red buds. The sprouting foliage is somewhat sensitive to late frost but recovers well.
In autumn, the leaves colour from yellow to orange/red, contrasting attractively with the pointed carmine red buds. The flowers are small and rather insignificant. An extraordinary characteristic of the Cercidiphyllum japonicum is that it smells when leaves are sprouting and when leaves start to fall. In Germany this tree is called '(Leb)Kuchenbaum', because the smell reminds one of pastry (Kuchen) and caramel.
Cercidiphyllum japonicum has a round rather wide ovate top with many, upward inclining main branches with spreading side limbs and bare auburn twigs. The habitus may vary due to genetic variation that can occur with seedlings. This species is very wind proof and non-suspectible to most common diseases and pests. The root system consists of one main root and a large number of flat fibrous roots. The Cercidiphyllum is often applied as avenue and park tree and requires fertile, not too dry, humous (sandy) soil. When cultivated as an avenue tree, it will reach a maxium height of approximately 10-12 m.