September Tree-of-the

September Tree-of-the-Month
Katsura
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
What’s that
sweet scent?
We all love the beautiful
fall colors in New England.
Did you know that there is a tree
that also gives off a sweet scent just
before the leaves fall? It is the katsura
tree, native to China and Japan.
The katsura scent reminds people of different
foods such as: burnt brown sugar, cinnamon, cotton
candy, crushed strawberries, and cake. What do you think
it smells like?
How does the tree emit that sweet scent? As the leaves reach the
end of their life cycle, a naturally occurring compound known as malt
sugar is in peak production. Malt sugar, or maltose, is commonly used as
a flavor enhancer in baked goods and other foods.
Tree Gender

seed pods
Katsura is a dioecious plant, meaning the
male and female flowers (and fruit) are
produced on separate trees. The spring
flowers are not showy but they create a
haze of red (on female) or yellow (on male)
around the leafless branches. Fertilized
female flowers turn into pods that resemble
miniature clumps of bananas. They split
open in the fall releasing small winged
seeds.
Weeping
In addition to the standard form of the katsura tree, there are several weeping
forms. One weeping cultivar comes from Morioka, Japan where it was first noticed
growing in the wild in the 16th century. Since that time only a few other weepers
have been found. All of the weeping katsuras are male and can only be propagated
by cloning.
Letterboxing!
Letterboxing is a fun way to explore the Arboretum and find the several different forms of
the katsura tree. For more information on letterboxing, go to www.letterboxing.org.
To find the letterbox, follow these directions:
•• Starting at the Visitor Center, travel down Meadow Road to the first bench on your
right. Have a seat to appreciate the oldest katsura at the Arboretum growing across
the road; it was accessioned in 1878.
•• Continue down Meadow Road to Linden Path.
•• At the beginning of Linden Path, look to your right and you’ll find a female katsura
tree. Do you see the banana shaped pods?
•• Follow Linden Path to the Leventritt Shrub & Vine Garden. When you get to the oval
Leventritt sign continue along the path for 26 steps. Turn left, proceed 10 more steps.
Turn right, go 30 steps. Turn left, walk 16 steps to the namesake Cercis or redbud tree.
Have a look at the leaves; the katsura’s leaves are similarly heart shaped.
•• Return to the path, continue up the stairs through the garden to the stone wall. Turn
right, take the stairs on the left.
•• Turn left. The second tree on your left is a weeping katsura tree, C. japonicum ‘Morioka
Weeping’. The letterbox is hidden under the pendulous branches. Follow the directions
inside and leave everything just as you found it.
125 Arborway
Boston, MA 02130-3500
617-384-5209
www.arboretum.harvard.edu