Plant of the Month September 2026
Cercidiphylum japonicum ‘Red Fox’.
GENERAL INFORMATION: Cercidiphyllum - means redbud leaf. Katsura is the tree’s Japanese name. This cultivar was selected in Germany in the late 1970s.
Common Name: Red Fox Katsura tree, Foxtail Katsura tree, Japanese Judas Tree.
Life Cycle: Small fast growing columnar deciduous tree.
Height: to 12m.
Bloom Time: Small insignificant flowers in April, male before foliage opens, female just after in Southern Ontario. These are difficult to see.
Flower Colour & Size: Dioecious. Tiny flowers, male are red, female are green. My tree must be female as it produced a green-leafed seedling.
Scent: Caramel like, only from dying leaves.
Leaves: Heart-shaped, round to oval leaves, up to 10cm long, deep purple in the spring with yellowish veining, then turning bluish green with apricot yellow in the fall. Dying leaves have a cinnamon like scent.
Fruit: Winged flat seeds in woody, pod-like follicle, 2.5cm long. Seedlings may not have the parent’s colour or form.
Bark: Shaggy grey-brown bark on older trees, with loose ends (exfoliating). Bark splitting may be a problem.
Range: Japan and China. This cultivar is of horticultural origin.
Habitat: The species found in moist mountainous forests.
CULTIVATION:
Plant: where it can be enjoyed year round, with some protection from hottest sun and strong winds.
Light: Partial to full sun.
Soil: Rich, well drained soil. Leaf colour is better in more acidic soil. Tolerant of clay soils.
Water: Average.Needs extra water till established. Drought sensitive.
USDA Hardiness: Zones 4-8.
Pests and Diseases: None likely.
Companion planting: Best as a specimen tree.
Pollinators: Insects.
Propagation: Seedlings unlikely to have purple colouration. Try cuttings in late spring.
Pruning: Best in late winter if needed.
References:
https://iselinursery.com/companion-trees/cercidiphyllum-japonicum-red-fox/
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/plantfinderdetails.aspx?taxonid=271129
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cercidiphyllum-japonicum/
https://www.worldplants.ca/display.php?id=6033
Text and images supplied by Anna Leggatt, Toronto Master Gardener,