Odd-colored Katsura tree

Discussion in 'Outdoor Gardening in the Pacific Northwest' started by Suze415, Oct 22, 2018.

  1. Suze415

    Suze415 Active Member

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    So I picked up a Cercidiphyllum japonicum last Fall at a nursery, to be a focal point tree for the front of our house. At the time it had these amazing colors, which are showing up again this Fall. I assumed it would have green leaves the rest of the year, as most katsuras do, but it doesn't. They are sort of this darkish green and red...not the most attractive. We have a red Japanese Maple next to it, so now it's just too much red year-round.

    My question is, have you ever seen a japonica Katsura like this? Why would this one have such different coloring? Also, I'm disappointed it doesn't have the usual katsura scent that I love so much. I thought getting a particular variety of katsura would mean certain colors, certain scent, certain attributes.

    Note: In the pics, the red katsura with the curled leaves is ours. The yellow one is two doors down, which looks like all the other katsuras I see around.
     

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  2. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    There is a cultivar called 'Red Fox', could that be it ?
     
  3. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Also sold under the name 'Rotfuchs'.
     
  4. Suze415

    Suze415 Active Member

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    Yeah, that was my first thought. I guess it's possible, but when looking at online photos of that variety, I dismissed that idea pretty quickly. The Red Fox variety seems to have a dominant purple color and this tree is never overall purple. But maybe many of the online pics were selected to capture the deepest color possible. Are there any Red Fox experts on here? I could take more pics if that would help someone identify. If it is a Red Fox, I want my money back from the nursery :)
     
  5. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Do you have any photos from the other parts of the year?
     
  6. Suze415

    Suze415 Active Member

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    I will look. I know I must have one, the question is finding it.
     
  7. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    The way I see it if yours is a red fall color variant so much the better. You can cool the two reddish trees near one another by adding shrubs and perennials with bluish leaves.

    'Rotfuchs' was raised by Karl Fuchs in Germany, so presumably the translation into English "Red Fox" is improper.
     

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