PLANT OF THE MONTH

OCTOBER 2021 — Katsura

Common Name: Katsura

Latin Name: Cercidiphyllum japonicum

Family: Cercidiphyllaceae

Type: Deciduous tree

Origin: China, Japan

Location at Bloedel Reserve: Japanese Garden, The Residence

Garden Uses: Fall color, shade tree

Fun Fact: Autumn is here, and so are the wonderful smells of what some refer to as “the Cotton Candy Tree!” Here at Bloedel, we have several Katsura trees that have already started to turn yellow and drop leaves. Once these leaves have begun their process of decay, they start to release a sweet fragrance of burnt sugar. This fragrance is caused by the release of a molecule called maltol.

To read more about how and why tree leaves turn color in the fall, click here.