Cercidiphyllum japonicum Glowball

Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Glowball' is an interesting selection of bush known for its more compact habit and moderate growth, well suited to small gardens. This deciduous bush offers decorative young shoots that are red in colour, bluish-green foliage in summer, and beautiful golden to orange colours in autumn. Just like the classic caramel tree, its leaves emit a light and sweet fragrance when stepped on.  

The Cercidiphyllum japonicum is the only species in the Cercidiphyllaceae family, which is dedicated to it. This fast-growing deciduous tree, native to China and Japan, has become rare in its original habitat but is widely cultivated in western parks and gardens. When left to grow freely, it tends to grow with multiple trunks, each forming a narrow fork, with short branches spreading horizontally in a cascade. The overall habit is rather slender, conical, but quite wide. While this tree can reach 30 or even 45 metres (147 feet 7 inches) in its native habitat, making it one of the tallest in the forest, it rarely exceeds 12 to 15 meters (39 feet 5 inches to 49 feet 2 inches) in height in our climate, with a spread of 6 to 8 metres (19 feet 8 inches to 26 feet, 2 inches).

Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Glowball' is a slow-growing horticultural selection that reaches a height of approximately 4 metres (13 feet 1 inches) and a spread of 3 metres at the age of 10. Its habit is rounded and dense, forming a ball. The heart-shaped leaves resemble those of the Judas tree, the Cercis siliquastrum, a resemblance that is likely the origin of its species name "Cercidiphyllum," literally "with Cercis-like leaves". They measure approximately 7 cm in diameter and have slightly toothed edges. In spring, they emerge bright red and then turn bluish-green to blue, with a whitish underside; they take on a lovely orange and yellow autumn colouration. It is commonly believed that a slightly acidic soil enhances the intensity of the colours. It is at this time that the leaves emit their characteristic caramel fragrance. The spring flowering, which is a somewhat dull reddish-pink, is of little interest, as male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. The trunk is covered with a fairly regular grey-brown bark that quickly develops some superficial wrinkles. It lightly exfoliates over time.

We recommend planting the Glowball caramel tree in a short grass meadow to allow it to flourish freely, or surrounded by low shrubs or perennials that evolve throughout the seasons; for example, a bushy Clematis heracleifolia, a Lespedeza thunbergii, a Midnight purple Physocarpus or Alchemilla.