Cercidiphyllum japonicum pendulum Tree

Cercidiphyllum japonicum pendulum boasts small, heart-shaped, lush green foliage which turns to vibrant shades of orange, red and purple in autumn. The leaves hang on graceful weeping branches that touch the ground, creating a dome like shape for the tree.  As with other Katsura trees, the foliage also gives off a rich fragrance of burnt sugar or candy floss on warm autumn days, which is a delicious quality. Small pink flowers appear in the spring.

Ideal for tight spaces, this ornamental small tree will grow to only 3 x 3 metres in 20 years. Cercidiphyllum japonicum pendulum likes moist soil (it will drop leaves if too dry) and a sheltered position away from late frosts. It is thought that the origin of most weeping Katsura trees is a tree, hundreds of years old, in the grounds of a monastery in Morioka, Japan. 

AKA Weeping Katsura tree, Pendulous Katsura, Morioka Weeping Tree, Cercidiphyllum japonicum f. pendulum

• Common name: Weeping Katsura tree
• Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
• Height and spread in 20 years: 3 x 3 metres
• Seasons of interest: Spring, Summer, Autumn
• Foliage: Heart-shaped, scented bronze leaves in spring, green in summer, orange in autumn
• Soil: Prefers a moist, well-drained site in all but loamy soils

Planting Advice for Cercidiphyllum japonicum pendulum Trees

Our pot grown Weeping Katsura trees can be planted at any time of the year. Choose a sheltered position away from late frosts which could blacken the new growing tips of Katsura, then remove all weeds and grass within a metre of this spot. Dig a square hole as deep as your root mass and approximately 2x as wide. To help your tree establish more effectively, especially if you have poor soil, we advise sprinkling root grow in the hole.

Take the pot off and gently loosen the roots, then place into the planting hole. Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% compost, then fill in the hole and firm around gently, making sure not to bank the soil up around the collar of the tree. We recommend using a stake and tie kit and, if your area is prone to rabbits, a rabbit guard too. For further information, visit our help and advice section.

Aftercare of Cercidiphyllum japonicum pendulum Trees

If you’re planting Weeping Katsura in spring, summer or dry weather, water well and regularly for the first few months. Make sure to keep an eye on young trees and increase watering if there are extended periods of hot or dry weather. If you’re planting in autumn, you may only need to water your tree a little. We stock a range of irrigation kits, suitable for a variety of planting schemes.

Once planted, it is important to keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons.

Pruning Advice for Cercidiphyllum japonicum pendulum Trees

Weeping Katsura trees trees do not require regular pruning. If you wish to tidy up your Katsura tree, do this during the dormant season. Focus on removing any damaged, diseased or overcrowded branches. If you require a clear trunk, remove any side shoots to help raise the crown.

Covid-19: We're pleased to announce that we are back up and running in line with government advice. We have a bit of a backlog of orders and are catching up as we write. Please expect a slightly longer lead time of around 2 – 3 weeks (excludes pre-order and mature trees). Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Delivery Costs

1 small tree (most trees under 1.5 metres in height) : £7.95 + vat

1 medium tree (most trees 1.5-2 metres in height) or 2-4 small trees: £9.95 + vat

2+ medium trees or 5+ small trees: £12.95 + vat

1-4 trees delivered by pallet (inc. mature Japanese Maples): £19.95 + vat

The above prices exclude the Scottish Highlands, where delivery starts from £24.95 + vat and is calculated in the checkout process.

Mature and pleached trees or orders too large for pallet: Cost is calculated in the checkout process and varies by postcode rather than quantity (starts from £48 + vat).

Northern Ireland and Non Mainland UK

Our courier charges are not viable for just one or two trees, but if you have a larger requirement then please do speak to us to see if we can find a solution.

Delivery Timescales

All trees are carefully packed by our experienced team and most are delivered within 10 days of placing the order. There's no need to be in to receive your order and you can request where it is left via the checkout.

There is a slightly longer timescale on pleached and mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) because we group orders together for specialist delivery - we will contact these customers to notify them of the delivery date.

Trees on pre-order are still growing and an estimate of when they will be ready is given on the basket page. Orders will be despatched when all trees are ready.

Gift trees and those required by a specific date can be accommodated with pleasure, although we accept no legal responsibility for late deliveries.

Our nursery is a busy despatch centre, so please make an appointment to collect or view trees.  For collections, despatch charges will be refunded.

The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. Below are definitions of terms:

Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.

Single Stem / Pruned and shaped: Classic shaped tree with a single stem that has had pruning to help create a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted: A height noted next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Top grafted trees do not require complicated pruning and are ideal for small spaces.

Feathered: A feathered tree has branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.

Multi Stem: A multi stem tree has two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.

Clump: Several plants in one pot that can give the appearance of a multi stemmed and very bushy tree.

Climber: A plant that is a natural climber and will be delivered usually running up a bamboo cane, ready to position in the garden.

Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height:

Standard  either 6-10cm or 8-10cm girth, approximately 2.5-3.0m in height
Premium Standard  10-12cm girth, approximately 3.0-3.5m in height
Heavy Standard  12-14cm girth, approximately 3.5-4.5m in height
Extra Heavy Standard 14-16cm girth approximately 4.0-6m in height