Cercidiphyllum japonicum

I purchased one of these today..and when I got home I did a search to find information as there was none given at the nursery ...now I am very worried apparently, it grows to great heights, and I got it to go in a pot...... thinking standard..... it is a weeping variety and so pretty...do you think do you think I could prune this, and keep it as a standard?...Cheers

 

Hi littleorme

The Katsura tree will attain a maximum height of about 12m but grows quite slowly. Obviously this is based on the tree being in optimum growing conditions and having the space to achieve it's potential.
Keeping the tree in a pot will mean that the roots will keep the tree in check, but I don't know how well the tree will deal with that. I should imagine a sympathetic pruning regime and annual feed will be fine but you won't be allowing the tree to reach full maturity and won't experience what it has to offer.

 

Thank you so much for your advice....I am a little annoyed with the nursery because I did ask all the obvious questions as there was no information on the tree itself..the formation of the tree is beautiful.being a weeping variety...so fingers crossed it will survive...I understand I wont get the beautiful speciman it is meant to be..but hopefully with some TLC it will fare well...once again thanks for your expertise.

 

I bought one of these about 8/10 years ago. It was then pruned as a small shrub rather than a tree and cost £7.99. I certainly feel I've had my money's worth out of it!

It has been kept ever since then in a large container (an old lead cold water tank, to be precise.) I would like to get it out from there, but I think this would cause too much root damage. It is now a slender small tree about 10' tall, but has undoubtedly been restricted by its growing conditions. I struggle to keep it moist enough with the result that at least once a year it has wilted badly before I've noticed, resulting in some leaf drop and shrivelling. The plant has always managed to make new growth to replace it, though. I've pruned it judiciously to encourage a tree shape rather than a shrub.

It is an extremely pretty tree, especially in spring and autumn, even though the growing conditions aren't optimum.

Every spring I think it must be the last it will tolerate in that pot and contemplate stooling it to see how it will respond but I haven't had the heart yet. I hope it will spring from the base.

I have never seen a weeping version but mine has gently fluttering leaves that tend towards that.

I'd never base my purchase on what someone told me in a nursery - I'd always check up by finding info and asking questions on the internet, especially for something important and long term like a tree. Lots of employees, especially in garden centres rather than nurseries, just don't have enough specialist knowledge - but don't worry, I think you've made a good purchase anyway.

 

I think you have a made a beautiful purhase and you can certainly grow it in a pot. The size of any plant is restricted either by it's natural habit or by being in a pot (a la Bonsai ). But to echo what has been said here, you can get lucky or not in taking the advice of a nursery employee -and definitely in a garden centre employee (especially if you buy on a Saturday or Sunday.

 

Thank you all...it is only about 3 ft tall...if that.. with beatiful weeping heart shaped leaves..it is so pretty.....it really will be a case of fingers crossed......

 

I noticed today the new leaves at the tip ends have withered ..and there are a few that look dead..is this common with this tree,or have I done something wrong..today i have given it another feed ..it is still fluttering in the breeze..but I am concerned with the new leaves that look dead..Many thanks

 

I wondered if treesurfer78 is around to give me some advice on the Katsura...cheers

 

are you around today Treesurfer78...I need some advice plese on the above problem...I have now got a few more brown and crisy leaves..Many thanks

 

Hi littleorme,

If you're able just to post a few pictures of the leaves in question then that would help a great deal. Brown leaves on trees can indiicate any number of problems ranging from infections and nutrient deficiencies to damage of the internal water system. The weather has been so changable these last few weeks that I expect your tree could be suffering from the cold and blustery winds that remove more water from the leaves than the tree can replace. If this is the case then there's nothing much you can due except to try and shelter the tree as much as possible. You can remove any dead looking leaves and hopefully the tree will recover when the weather improves.

 

Many thanks treesurfer78...the tree itself looks fine ,but it it is the new liitle leaves on the end that have withered, and the odd original leaf...it has got a bit wind battered the last few days ..maybe I should move it .....

 

I am worried now my Katsura tree relly does look sad ..withering leaves, and the green of the leaves are fading badly ..i really do feel I am going to lose the tree..any advice please...?:(

 

Hi littleorme. I'm certainly no expert, but I'm wondering about watering ? Too little or too much maybe ? Most folks will water their plants, but I think sometimes it's overdone, especially considering you have it in a pot. Any chance of a pic ?
Cheers...freddy.

 

Thank you ..i will see if I can can a photo..

 

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6663/pict0037.jpg


this is'nt very good..I will do another