Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Katsura tree) — H35 cm | Pot Ø12 cm
- Regular price
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€27,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€27,95
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Frequently asked questions
Can the katsura tree be grown in a pot? Yes, for the first few years, in a large planter with drainage holes filled with rich, free-draining compost, repotting it as it grows; it then becomes a large tree of more than 12 m that is planted in the garden.
Why does my katsura tree arrive without leaves? It is a deciduous tree: delivered in autumn or winter, it may have lost its leaves, and its buds start growing again in spring.
Shipping & packaging
Shipped within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 working days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection so your plant arrives in perfect condition
- Tracking link sent by email as soon as your parcel ships
- Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page
ZEN ARRIVAL GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us promptly at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- We will find the right solution for your situation
- No return needed — we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage in transit, plants severely weakened on arrival, and order preparation errors.
CARE TIPS ON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack your plant immediately and inspect it
- Let it acclimatize for 24-48h in a bright spot out of direct sunlight
- Check the soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting, if needed
- Keep it away from heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe the leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🍂 Yellow, orange and pink autumn foliage • 🍬 Fallen leaves with a caramel scent • 💚 Heart-shaped leaves with scalloped edges • 🌱 Red-tinged young shoots • ⛅ Soft sun or partial shade • ❄️ Hardy down to -30 °C • 📏 H35 cm | Pot Ø12 cm
Cercidiphyllum japonicum, or katsura tree, is a deciduous tree native to Japan and China, also known by its Japanese name, katsura. Its rounded, heart-shaped leaves, with finely scalloped edges, emerge tinged with bronze and red in spring, then turn bluish green in summer. In autumn, they turn yellow, orange and pink; once fallen, they give off a sweet scent of caramel and burnt sugar, which has earned it the nickname caramel tree.
It is delivered as a 35 cm young plant, in a 12 cm pot to be repotted, already branched into several stems. In open ground, over the years it becomes a large tree of more than 12 m: it is grown for a few years in a large planter on a terrace, then planted in the garden, where it is among the most spectacular plants with decorative foliage in autumn.
Which tree for autumn colours?
The catalogue brings together several deciduous trees and shrubs that take on colour late in the season:
- Cercidiphyllum japonicum (this plant) — heart-shaped leaves that turn yellow, orange and pink in autumn, with a caramel scent once fallen, large garden tree, H35 cm | Pot Ø12 cm. The choice for a specimen tree in the garden.
- Japanese maples — deeply cut palmate leaves, red, orange or green depending on the variety, slow growth and compact habit. The choice for a tree that stays in a pot on a balcony or terrace.
- Cornus alba 'Sibirica' — shrub with bright red stems, visible all winter once the leaves have fallen, H45 cm | Pot Ø17 cm. The choice for colour in winter.
The varieties and care of maples are presented in the Japanese maple in a pot.
Exposure & planting
It thrives in sun or partial shade, in a sheltered spot: wind and the scorching afternoon sun dry out its leaves. Plant it in autumn or spring, outside frost periods.
- Exposure: morning sun or partial shade, sheltered from the wind; the autumn colours are brighter with a little sun.
- Soil: moist, rich in humus and well-drained, acidic to neutral; chalky soil dulls the autumn colours.
- In the garden: as a specimen tree, several metres from the house, as it spreads out over the years.
- In a planter: for the first few years, in a large planter with drainage holes; repot it into a bigger container as it grows, before planting it in open ground.
- Hardiness: down to -30 °C; in a planter, protect the root ball from frost, as explained in overwintering your balcony.
Delivered in autumn or winter, it may arrive with yellowed leaves or no leaves at all: this is the normal cycle of a deciduous tree, and its buds start growing again in spring.
Watering & care
It does not cope well with drought: keep the soil moist, especially in the first two years and during hot summers. In a planter, water as soon as the compost has dried on the surface, which you can check with the finger test.
- Watering: regular, without leaving standing water; leaves turning brown at the edges signal a lack of water or heat stress (see brown tips and edges).
- Mulching: a layer of bark at the base keeps the soil cool in summer and protects the roots in winter.
- Pruning: rarely needed; only remove dead wood and badly placed branches, at the end of winter.
- Fertiliser: a layer of compost at the base in spring.
It has no major pests; well-drained soil is enough to limit root problems.
Decor ideas & plant combinations
Its light, fluttering heart-shaped foliage is best enjoyed up close in summer, and its autumn colours light up a corner of the garden or terrace. More ideas are gathered in combining potted plants.
- Winter relay: next to a Cornus alba 'Sibirica', whose bright red stems take over when the katsura tree has lost its leaves.
- At the base, in late winter: a Helleborus niger 'Christmas Carol', with white flowers, makes the most of the light that passes between its still bare branches.
- Same soil, same light: a Rhododendron Bloombux® Magenta also likes partial shade and moist soil; its deep pink flowers echo the pinkish tones of autumn.
- Ideal pot: at the first repotting, the Capi Nature Groove taupe pot in Ø22 or Ø25 cm adds a neutral, warm tone that goes well with the yellow and orange of autumn.
Plants that withstand harsh winters are gathered in cold-resistant plants.
Verdeia tips
- Repot it as soon as it arrives: place it in a 20 to 25 cm pot filled with rich, free-draining compost, keeping the root ball at the same level as on delivery.
- Leave the leaves at the base in autumn: it is as they dry on the ground that they give off their caramel scent, which is stronger in damp weather.
- Protect the young shoots from late frosts: they emerge early in spring; a horticultural fleece put in place in the evening protects them, and a few steps help to save a plant that has been exposed to the cold.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Cercidiphyllum japonicum
- Common name: katsura tree, caramel tree
- Family: Cercidiphyllaceae
- Origin: Japan and China
- Dimensions on delivery: H35 cm | Pot Ø12 cm, branched young plant
- Mature height: more than 12 m in open ground, over 20 to 50 years
- Habit: tree, branched from the base when young
- Foliage: deciduous, scalloped heart-shaped leaves of 5 to 10 cm, reddish bronze in spring, bluish green in summer, yellow, orange and pink in autumn
- Scent: fallen leaves with a caramel scent in autumn
- Flowering: inconspicuous, in early spring, before the leaves
- Exposure: morning sun or partial shade, sheltered from the wind
- Watering: regular, soil kept moist
- Soil type: moist, humus-rich and free-draining, acidic to neutral
- Hardiness: down to -30 °C
- Pruning: rarely needed, at the end of winter
- Care: easy
- Toxicity: non-toxic to animals
- Decorative style: Japanese / Natural / Autumn garden
Every plant is unique: the number of stems, the tint of the young shoots and the intensity of the autumn colours vary naturally with the plant, the exposure and the soil.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Orders ship within 48 working hours, with tracked delivery in 2 to 5 working days via DPD. Shipping costs and the free-shipping threshold depend on your country — see our delivery page. You receive a tracking link as soon as your parcel leaves.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What should I do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.