The small, rounded leaves are flushed pink when young but turn bright green in summer, then take on orange, red and yellow colours (this is more pronounced when it's grown on moist, acidic soils) in autumn. After the leaves are shed, they release a really sweet smell, which is similar to caramel-candyfloss - and this can stop you in your tracks each time you pass. The colourful and aromatic foliage more than makes up for the size of the pinkish-red flowers (they are tiny) that clothe the bare stems in spring. It makes a stunning specimen for the lawn, either with a single trunk or as a broader multi-stemmed tree.
How to care for Cercidiphyllum japonicum:
Requires minimal pruning. Remove any broken, diseased or crossing branches in late autumn or winter. When planting incorporate lots of well-rotted garden compost in the planting hole and stake firmly.
Eventual height:
10m
Eventual spread:
4m
Position:
Full sun / light shade
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
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This tree is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.