Katsura tree
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
The katsura tree is a graceful, large deciduous tree native to the mountains of Japan and China, prized for its heart-shaped leaves that turn soft shades of pink, apricot, and yellow in autumn while releasing a distinctive caramel or burnt-sugar scent — one of the most beloved sensory moments in the autumn garden. It is dioecious (separate male and female plants), with inconspicuous flowers in early spring. The honest catch is moisture: katsura is notably drought-intolerant, especially when young — dry spells trigger premature leaf drop, and established trees in exposed or dry soils can lose their foliage weeks before autumn; site near consistent soil moisture and shelter from desiccating winds, or invest heavily in irrigation during the first several seasons.
Climate fit: narrow (34/100)
Focal point
Structure
Light
Full sun / Part sun
Water
Consistent moisture
Mature size
360-600" tall · 360" apart
Hardy in zones
4b-8b
very cold to frosty winters
Native in Illinois
No
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Not grown for food; there are no edible parts.
Cold hardiness
These values are location-based: this location's current hardiness is the baseline, and the 2050 value is a projected future climate for this same location.
Now
Zone 6b
Plotwright
USDA Zone 6b
-5°F to 0°F
Well-suited
Zone 7a
Plotwright
0°F to 5°F
Well-suited
In plain terms: This location has cold winters. Its winters are projected to keep warming through 2050.
✓
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Heat tolerance values are location-based too: heat days today are observed at this site, and the 2050 value projects this same location under a future climate.
Loading AHS heat-zone data for this location...
Where this plant fits
Suitable across 40 ecoregions — 35 climate-resilient through 2070 · 5 suited today. Best matches first.
Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests
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Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests
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Arizona Mountains forests
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Blue Mountains forests
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Canadian Aspen forests and parklands
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Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests
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Central Tallgrass prairie
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Central-Southern Cascades Forests
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Colorado Rockies forests
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Cross-Timbers savanna-woodland
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Browse lateral options with similar roles, light needs, size, or native-range overlap; these are not filtered for a better climate fit.
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Educator packet
Plant packet
Katsura tree educator packet
The katsura tree is a graceful, large deciduous tree native to the mountains of Japan and China, prized for its heart-shaped leaves that turn soft shades of pink, apricot, and yellow in autumn while releasing a distinctive caramel or burnt-sugar scent — one of the most beloved sensory moments in the autumn garden. It is dioecious (separate male and female plants), with inconspicuous flowers in early spring. The honest catch is moisture: katsura is notably drought-intolerant, especially when young — dry spells trigger premature leaf drop, and established trees in exposed or dry soils can lose their foliage weeks before autumn; site near consistent soil moisture and shelter from desiccating winds, or invest heavily in irrigation during the first several seasons.
Scientific name
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Plant type
tree
Hardiness
4b-8b
Light
full-sun, part-sun
Moisture
consistent
Spacing
360 inches
Classroom prompts
- Which plant traits are observations, and which are care recommendations?
- How would this plant fit change if the garden location moved warmer, colder, wetter, or drier?
- Which source-backed facts would you cite in a lesson handout?
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Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum). Retrieved 2026, June 30, from https://plotwright.com/plants/cercidiphyllum-japonicum
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited - 18 source-backed.
RHS Find a Plant
Botanical research database
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
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Designer notes