Associate the Karamel Tree or Cercidiphyllum

A caramel tree in a romantic-style flowerbed

For this romantic scene, the planting of plants is done in layers of varying heights in soil that does not dry out too much. The plants associated with the caramel tree should be planted at a distance from the Cercidiphyllum to prevent it from suffering from root competition. Choose perennial plants with white, pink, or purple flowering. In the background, set back, the Caramel Tree serves as a focal point and adds verticality to the bed. The Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendulum’ is a weeping variety ideal for this environment. Its trailing branches give it elegance and a beautiful presence. At the base of the caramel tree, install Japanese anemones. For example, the Japanese anemone ‘Queen Charlotte’ enhances the garden with its pale pink flowers. Accompany it with large astilbes, such as the Astilbe arendsii ‘Bressingham Beauty’ in a lovely candy pink. Smaller, the astrantia offers superb flowering in umbels. You can choose a light shade or opt for the intense Astrantia major ‘Ruby Cloud’ with purplish flowers.

Consider small decorative foliage bushes that can take place in the heart of the bed: a variegated spindle tree (Euonymus fortunei ‘Golden Harlequin’, Euonymus japonicus ‘Pierrolino’), the dwarf weigela Weigelia florida ‘Monet Verweig’ with changing foliage edged in pink or white, or the Abelia x grandiflora ‘Magic Daydream’. The columbines Aquilegia ‘Nora Barlow’ and Aquilegia flabellata ‘Cameo White’ reveal their fairy-like flowers until early summer. Finally, at the front, decorate the border of the bed with low plants: tiarella, summer heather, hardy geranium, campanula.

Astilbe arendsii ‘Bressingham Beauty’ (photo Gail Frederick), Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendulum’ (photo W. Cutler), Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Nora Barlow’, Abelia ‘Magic Daydream’, Euonymus japonicus ‘Pierrolino’ and Anemone ‘Queen Charlotte’

Cercidiphyllum with other trees

Appreciated for its changing foliage, Cercidiphyllum japonicum is an exceptional tree. In large gardens, it is ideal for creating a grove that groups several trees renowned for the beauty of their foliage or flowering. Pair the caramel tree with trees that thrive in cool, neutral to acidic soils, and maintain a good planting distance of 5 metres between each specimen.

The Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Golden Sun’ is smaller than the species type and offers palmate foliage that transitions from golden yellow in spring to green in summer, finishing with purple-red in autumn. The red maple Acer rubrum ‘Summer Red’ dresses in foliage that turns red or green depending on the seasons. The black birch ‘Shiloh Splash’ brightens the grove with its bicoloured green and white leaves. The magnolia adds colour with its elegant flowering in various shades: pure white, pinkish white or purple, pink, cream yellow or greenish, wine red, and even dark purple. The Japanese dogwood (Cornus kousa) reveals stunning flowers on its graphic branches.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Cornus kousa, and Liquidambar styraciflua

The Caramel Tree in a Colourful Autumn Scene

With its stunning fiery foliage in autumn, the caramel tree certainly stands out in the late season. During this time when the days shorten, plants gradually enter dormancy. The sap descends into the roots, causing the leaves to change colour. Pair your cercidiphyllum with trees that have beautiful autumn colours, such as the iron tree (Parrotia persica) with its incandescent leaves or the ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud with its purple-red foliage that turns a rusty hue in autumn. Add some colourful shrubs to this arrangement: Japanese maple (for example, the Acer palmatum ‘Ornatum’ with its purplish laciniate leaves), heavenly bamboo (like the compact Nandina domestica ‘Fire Power’), or even leucothoe.

Don’t forget late-flowering perennials: the American bluebell (Stokesia laevis), autumn asters, Fortune’s saxifrage, or the toad lily (Tricyrtis). The foliage of perennials or grasses can also have decorative interest: the famous heucheras, the elf flower, creeping bugle (the Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ with its dark leaves, for example), or linear-leaved plants such as hakonechloa, Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’, or black ophiopogon.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’, Tricyrtis ‘Imperial Banner’, Epimedium warleyense (photo Chris Mealy) and Stokesia laevis

Cercidiphyllum near a body of water

Originating from the wooded edges of China and Japan, the caramel tree thrives in humus-bearing soils that are always slightly moist, but not overly so. Planting it near a water feature is quite feasible as long as its roots do not grow in waterlogged soil. Plant the Cercidiphyllum in a sunny or lightly shaded area of the garden.

To create a setting around your pond or stream, pair it with moisture-loving bushes and perennial plants. In the background, install a sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus), a Clethra alnifolia, or a white dogwood (for example, Cornus alba ‘Gouchaultii’). All thrive perfectly in cool soil. Opulent plants typical of woodland edges, such as ferns (the royal fern, for example) and hostas, add volume as well. The pink or white flowers of persicarias and Chelone are essential for adding colour to this area. Finally, low-growing groundcover perennials such as subulate sagina, elegant capillary, Chloranthus fortunei, or California anemopsis help fill in the gaps.

• To vegetate the surface of your water feature, choose aquatic plants. You will find our entire range of aquatic plants on our site.

Osmunda regalis, Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Anemopsis californica, Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’ (photo Kristine Paulus), Chelone obliqua and Calycanthus floridus (photo Wikipedia)

The Caramel Tree near a terrace or at the front of the house

The caramel tree proves to be a good choice for landscaping around a terrace or at the front of a house. This small tree is ideal for welcoming visitors who take the path to the house or for enhancing the view from the terrace. Not only are the beautiful colours of its leaves ornamental for a good part of the year, but when it sheds its foliage, it delights us with its caramel or gingerbread scent.

To showcase it well, plant the caramel tree in isolation with a few bulbous plants as companions: chionodoxa, fritillary, or daffodil for spring flowering; tulip, camassia, or ornamental garlic for summer flowering; colchicum, Naples cyclamen, snowdrop, and Naples cyclamen take over in autumn or winter. The successive blooms allow for an attractive garden across several seasons. Interspace some low-growing plants that are interesting for their foliage: carex, silver artemisia ‘Canescens’, or heucherella. Their foliage is useful for temporarily hiding the dried leaves of bulb plants and reduces the need for frequent maintenance of your low bed.

Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Imperial fritillary ‘Tchaikovsky’, Hederifolium cyclamen, Heucherella ‘Solar Power’, and Chionodoxa luciliae

Cercidiphyllum in an Urban Garden

Resistant well to pollution, the Cercidiphyllum has its place in an urban garden, in soil that is not too dry. To create a city garden, it is essential to wisely choose plants that can withstand urban pollution.

For this arrangement, we recommend Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Rotfuchs’, which is a reasonable size (4 to 5 metres tall), with purplish-black foliage turning purplish-green at ripeness. If space allows, Catalpa bignonioides ‘Nana’ can accompany the caramel tree. Not exceeding 5 metres in height and 3 metres in spread, it can serve as a leafy parasol if grafted onto a tall stem. To cover a wall, opt for a honeysuckle: for example, Lonicera henryi, which tolerates urban atmospheres very well and offers trumpet-shaped flowers in orange-pink during summer. For an original effect, choose a decorative dogwood (Cornus sericea, Cornus alba) or the false spiraea with rowan-like leaves ‘Sem’. This small-growing bush features splendid foliage with changing colours: chartreuse green subtly tinged with pink, red, and then beige. In summer, it produces light white panicle inflorescences. Finally, some perennials can complete the picture: sedums, spurges, heathers, daylilies, hardy geraniums, and bergenias.

Lonicera henryi, Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Rotfuchs’ (photo wlcutler), Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Ascot Rainbow’, Hemerocallis ‘Everydaylily Red Ribs’ and Sorbaria sorbifolia ‘Sem’