Hi, I'm new to the forums and don't see a photo attachment option...is there one? We have a new development next door to us and the developer (who is no longer around) planted a 5 ft tall stock which an arborist we talked to identified but I didn't write down the name. It was 'Katsu-something. or something-katsu obviously a Japanese species which grows quite tall apparently-30' plus and must be a type fairly popular with residential landscape contractors. I know this is sketchy information but does the name or partial name ring a bell with anyone.
Most likely a Katsura, latin name is Cercidiphyllum japonicum. And yes, very popular and widespread in Vancouver landscapes.
Not inherently a small tree - grows at least double that height (30') on suitable sites here. For example, one in a private garden in Seattle measured 84' x 10'11' x 63' during 1993. 10'11" equates to a trunk more than 3' thick; 63' was the average crown spread at that time. During ~2005 some Katsura trees in the Seattle arboretum ranged in height from 86' to 102'.
Great everyone, thanks for the great responses. Oh dear, that height and girth are awesome but scary cos it's been planted within 18" of my fence line so I definitely need to talk to the new owner! On the landscape plan it was supposed to be planted mid lot, i.e. with about 15' breathing room East and West. -M
Smaller examples of some age are prevalent on less favorable sites here, but still we are not talking about a shrub that can be fit into a small space. The genetics of the tree call for it to be as big as the examples I mentioned, with failure to grow as large within a reasonable period of time (for a tree) due to it being held down by site conditions. And notice with the one example the average spread was only 20' less than the height, so when the one near you there is say, 15' tall it may be nearly 10' across.
