'Pendulum' is a grafted cultivar with a multi-trunked form of the Asian katsura tree. Grow in full sun to partial shade in moist fertile well-drained soils and irrigate regularly as it is not drought resistant when young. It eventually reaches 15 to 25 feet tall. It has heart-shaped leaves on pendulous branches that dip downward towards the ground and great yellow fall color. The weeping habit gives it four seasons of interest. This long-lived tree is grown primarily for its graceful, cascading, or weeping, habit. The low canopy is only a foot or so off the ground. It makes an excellent specimen, understory tree or tree for a small space. Its form makes it a great addition to a winter garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The shallow root system can make grass mowing difficult. Hot, afternoon sun as well as windy locations can scorch the foliage. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee. More information on Cercidiphyllum japonicum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Multi-trunked; Rounded; Weeping
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Opposite
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The heart shaped leaves emerge a red/purple in the springtime, maturing to blueish/green. The gold, orange and red fall colors add to a fall garden. The leaves are fragrant when they are yellow and falling.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower shape
Irregular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Dioecious, male and female flowers appear on separate plants. In March and April, insignificant red blooms appear on male trees, while green flowers can be found on female trees. They emerge before the foliage.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Follicle
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
Green pods, 3/4" long will appear on female trees that have been pollinated.
Bark color
Dark Gray; Light Gray
Bark detail
They bark is initially smooth, then peeling in strips
Stem detail
Pendulus stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Japan and China
Wildlife value
Birds are attracted.
Attracts
Songbirds
Play value
Buffer; Colorful; Shade
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Follicle
Uses (ethnobotany)
Its showy foliage make this tree a great addition to the landscape.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Small Space
Landscape theme
Cottage Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Flowering Tree; Shade Tree; Small Tree; Specimen; Understory Tree
Garden tags
#understory tree #clay soils tolerant #low maintenance #specimen #small tree #fall interest #pendulous #fall color red #heart-shaped leaves #landscape plant sleuths course #deciduous #fragrant leaves #deciduous tree #fall color #shade tree #drought intolerant #frost tolerant #summer interest #dry soils intolerant #weeping #winter interest #long lived #tree #compact