Japanese Pagoda Tree
Styphnolobium japonicum · Deciduous Broadleaf
Plant Family
Fabaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree / Ornamental / Flowering
Variety / Cultivar
Standard species (possibly 'Regent')
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8; exhibits high tolerance for urban heat and atmospheric pollution.
About This Tree
A medium to large tree with a rounded, spreading, and umbrella-like crown. It features delicate compound foliage that provides light, dappled shade. It is known for its late-season creamy white flowers and distinctive pea-like seed pods.
Leaf Characteristics
Pinnately compound, 6 to 10 inches long, with 7 to 17 ovate leaflets. Leaflets are lustrous dark green above and paler beneath, turning a soft yellow or remaining green late into the fall. Arrangement is alternate.
Bark Characteristics
Grayish-brown; on younger trees, it is relatively smooth with light lenticels, becoming deeply furrowed with age into fibrous ridges and interlacing furrows.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to China and Korea; introduced and naturalized in Japan and globally as an urban shade tree.
Growing Season
Leafs out in late spring (May); flowers in late summer (July-August); fruits in autumn; enters dormancy in late autumn; best planted in spring or fall.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun for optimal flowering. Requires moderate watering during establishment but is quite drought tolerant once mature. Prefers well-drained, loamy soils.
Mature Size
Reaches a height of 50 to 75 feet with a similar spread. Growth rate is moderate, roughly 12 to 15 feet over a 10-year period.
Special Characteristics
Notably tolerant of city conditions (salt, heat, pollution). Features late-summer bloom when few other trees are flowering. Its seed pods are constricted between seeds, resembling a string of beads.
Wildlife & Ecology
Flowers are a significant source of nectar for bees and other pollinators during the lean late-summer months. Provides nesting sites for birds; however, the seeds are generally not a primary food source for local wildlife.