Drifting Leaves: Can you smell the muffins?
Yesterday I was pulling weeds in the front yard when I breathed in the scent of warm muffins. I was nowhere near a kitchen, so I sniffed again. Sure enough, my weeping katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum 鈥楶endulum鈥�) had shed some leaves, giving off that glorious smell.
It鈥檚 early in the season for this, but there it was 鈥� dehiscent katsura leaves warmed by summer sun and perfuming the garden better than a Stargazer lily.
This tree smells good enough to eat, but that鈥檚 not the only reason to grow it. I love its shaggy red spring blooms, , burnished gold fall color, sculptured winter form, and gray peeling bark. Visitors always notice it, because we prune its weeping stems to arch over a flagstone path.
If one is good, then why not grow more? Bob and I acquired a pyramidal C. japonicum 鈥楻aspberry鈥� and finally C. japonicum 鈥楻otfuchs鈥� (Red Fox katsura). The last, still in its container, is my birthday gift to Bob.
The genus name, Cercidiphyllum, refers to the tree鈥檚 heart-shaped leaves, which resemble those of Cercis聽 (redbud). We chose Red Fox for its striking foliage 鈥� maroon in spring, greener as the season progresses.
At the moment, the leaves on our new plant are red-tinged dark green with bright red stems, except the new growth, which is maroon. 鈥楻aspberry鈥� also has reddish leaves in spring, red leaf stems, and reddish fall color.
Katsuras are easy to grow in USDA Zones 4 to 8. For more information on these versatile trees, click .
Penelope O'Sullivan, who will be writing about trees and shrubs at Diggin' It, is the author of "The Homeowner's Complete Tree & Shrub Handbook: The Essential Guide to Choosing, Planting, and Maintaining Perfect Landscape Plants." She has a landscape design business on the New Hampshire seacoast.
Editor鈥檚 note: For more on gardening, see the Monitor鈥檚 main gardening page. Our . Our .
You may also want to visit . If you join the group (it鈥檚 free), you can upload your garden photos 鈥� and possibly win a prize. Deadline is Aug. 11. Join and get answers to your gardening questions.
