This beautiful summer-flowering tree grows even in tough city conditions.
It grows in mild climates, preferring full sun and loamy soils.
Keep in mind that the fruits of Japanese pagoda tree are toxic to humans.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It grows amazingly well in tree pits, parking squares, and along streets with air pollution.
Temperature and Humidity
Japanese pagoda trees are frost hardy down to minus 25 degrees F when mature.
The tree grows well in humid conditions.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Fertilizer
Fertilizing a young tree wont precipitate its bloom so skip the fertilizer until it starts flowering.
The important thing to look for when selecting a Japanese pagoda tree is its trunk form.
Branches that form a narrower angle will eventually need pruning to avoid the formation of a weak crotch.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Japanese pagoda tree is rarely affected by serious pest or disease problems.
It might attract leafhoppers.
Potential fungal diseases include rust,powdery mildew, blight, canker, and verticillium wilt.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It takes a young tree up to ten years to bloom for the first time.
Bloom Months
The tree blooms in the mid- to late summer, between July and early September.
How Long Does Japanese Pagoda Tree Bloom?
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The bloom period lasts about three weeks.
What Do Japanese Pagoda Tree Flowers Look and Smell Like?
The ivory-white flowers are arranged in 12-inch panicles.
The flowers have a faint, sweet fragrance.
To increase the full sun exposure, prune nearby plants if possible.
Continue to care for the tree as you have been.
On the downside, it takes up to a decade for the tree to bloom for the first time.
Another minus: With a lifespan of 30 to 40 years, it is not a long-lived tree.
The flowers and resulting seedpods (which are toxic) often leave stains on pavements.If that bothers you.
you might want to do a cleanup below the tree after the bloom.
North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
