Katsura Tree
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
An elegant Asian shade tree with delicate blue-green heart-shaped leaves on a graceful, often multi-stemmed frame, turning apricot-gold in fall — famously smelling of cotton candy or burnt sugar as the leaves senesce. Needs steady moisture, especially when young; clean and trouble-free once established.
Field reference
Family
Cercidiphyllaceae
Growth rate
Moderate
Mature size
40–60 ft tall, 25–60 ft spread
Hardiness zone
4–8
Soil preference
Moist, rich, well-drained soils; needs consistent moisture when young
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Pruning window
Dormant season; often multi-stem, shape early
Wood properties
Light, soft, fine, even-grained wood prized in Japan for carving, cabinetry, and woodblocks. Light rigging; graceful, often multi-stemmed form with delicate heart-shaped leaves.
Native range
Native to Japan and China; widely planted ornamental
Green weight
35 lb/ft³
Common questions
Why does my katsura smell like cotton candy in fall?
As katsura leaves turn color and dry, they release maltol, giving off a distinctive sweet caramel, cotton-candy, or burnt-sugar scent — one of the tree's most beloved and unusual traits.
Why are the leaf edges scorching on my young katsura?
Katsura is sensitive to drought when young, and leaf-margin scorch usually signals dry soil or hot wind. Keep the root zone consistently moist and mulched through the first few years to establish it well.
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