Cercidiphyllum japonicum

Cercidiphyllum japonicum, also known as the caramel tree, is a slow-growing ornamental tree characterized by an elegant pyramidal shape and a dense, lush canopy.

Botanical Facts

Origin: China, Japan

Size: Reaches a height of 8–10 metres and a spread of 6–8 metres.

Foliage: The leaves are one of the plant’s most distinctive features. In spring and summer, they are bright green, before turning spectacular shades of yellow, orange and red in autumn.

Flowering: In spring (April–May). The flowers are small, pink and relatively inconspicuous.

Fragrance: As the leaves age and fall in autumn, they release an intense and distinctive caramel-like fragrance due to high levels of maltol, a naturally occurring organic compound with a sweet aroma.

Uses and Cultivation

Thanks to its tolerance of a wide range of environmental conditions, it is an ideal specimen for parks, large gardens and ornamental planting, where it provides excellent shade as well as striking seasonal interest.

Its soft, lightweight wood is used in East Asia for furniture making. In China, extracts from the bark and leaves have also traditionally been used as a natural adhesive.