Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Rotfuchs'
(Katsura Tree 'Rotfuchs')
Family - Cercidiphyllaceae
Category - Tree
Year of Introduction - 1977
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H5
Height - 5m or more
Width - 2m
Location - The Cool Garden
Description: A small to medium-sized Deciduous tree with an upright, bushy habit and a narrow, oval crown. Rounded to heart-shaped leaves emerge very deep purple in spring and slowly fade to dark olive green, flushed with purple as they develop and mature. The leaves have finely scalloped margins. Small, petalless flowers are produced in early and mid-spring as the leaves emerge. Male and female flowers are produced on separate plants (Dioecious). Male flowers are red and female flowers are green. The leaves turn bright shades of yellow, orange and red in autumn before falling. The foliage smells of candy floss or burnt sugar when crushed, and the scent is strongest in the autumn during leaf senescence.
Flower:
Dioecious. Small apetalous flowers are produced in March and April before or as the leaves emerge. Male flowers are red, the female flowers are green and they are held on separate plants.
Flower colour: Red or green
Flower shape: Small, apetalous flowers held singly
Flowering time: March, April
Foliage:
Rounded to Cordate leaves with finely Crenate margins emerge deep purple in spring and gradually turn to dark olive green, flushed with purple, with age. The leaves are glaucous on the undersides and are held on bright purple-pink petioles. The leaves are held in opposite pairs (occasionally Alternate) on the upright stems. The foliage smells of candyfloss or burnt sugar when crushed and the scent is most pronounced when the leaves are colouring in autumn. The foliage turns bright shades of yellow, orange and red in autumn before falling.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Cordate to rounded
Autumn Colour: Yellow, orange and red
Propagation:
Cuttings, grafting.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun to partial shade in moisture-retentive soil that is well-drained. This tree will tolerate some lime, but will perform best when planted in soil with an acidic pH.