Japanese Pagoda Tree

Other names

Chinese Scholar Tree

Growth habit

Tree

Perennation

Long-lived polycarpic perennial

Native distribution

China and Korea

Source of plant

Unknown

Description

Tree reaching 50' to 75' in height and width with dense habit when young, developing an upright-spreading, broadly rounded crown at maturity. Foliage medium to dark lustrous green in summer, holding the green color late into the fall with little fall color developing. Flowers perfect, creamy-white, fragrant, borne in 6" to 12" long and wide terminal panicles in July through mid-August; each flower 1/2" long, calyx 1/8" long, green, bell-shaped, very showy in flower; trees grown from seed do not flower until reaching 10 to 14 years of age. Fruit a 2" to 4" long pod changing from bright green to yellow and finally yellow-brown in October, but may remain effective throughout the winter; after the pods abscise the inflorescence remains.

USDA Hardiness Zone

4