Cercidiphyllum japonicum

Japanese katsura is in the Cercidiphyllaceae family and is native from the Himalayas to Japan. It is a very long-lived tree and grows to over 30m tall. It is broadly pyramidal when young, eventually forming a massive domed crown resembling an open-grown oak.

• Leaves are opposite or partially alternate, simple, rounded, up to 7 cm in diameter, palmately veined, heart-shaped at the base, with rounded teeth (leaf resembling that of the redbud (Cercis genus)). Foliage is reddish when unfolding, turning to blue-green. In autumn, the leaves can have multiple colors (reds, pinks and yellows) on the same tree.
• The species is dioecious (having distinct male and female plants). Female flowers have inconspicuous but beautiful red filaments among the opening leaves in early spring. Male flowers, on separate trees, are about 2 cm long and have red dangling anthers about 8 mm long.
• Fruit is a cluster of 2–4 curved, green pods 1–2 cm long and 2–3 mm wide, each containing several winged seeds. They become dark brown and remain on the tree over the winter (although female trees do not produce seed pods every year).
• Twigs are easily distinguishable in winter, being very slender, with small, usually opposite buds pressing to the twigs, rotating 90° between whorls.