Introduction

Weeping pagoda tree will grow to a height and spread of about 20 feet, forming a fine-textured, weeping round canopy even as a young tree. It has a rapid growth rate and tolerates polluted city conditions, heat, and drought. The tree prefers a sunny, open location on any light soil. The very showy, greenish-white to yellow flowers produced by the species in mid to late summer are mostly absent from this cultivar. The young green twigs turn a dark grey with age.

General Information

Scientific name: Sophora japonica

Pronunciation: sah-FOR-uh juh-PAWN-ih-kuh

Common name(s): Weeping scholar tree, weeping Japanese pagoda tree

Family: Leguminosae

USDA hardiness zones: 5A through 8A (Fig. 2)

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: little invasive potential

Uses: deck or patio; shade; parking lot island 100-200 sq ft; parking lot island > 200 sq ft; tree lawn 4-6 feet wide; tree lawn > 6 ft wide; street without sidewalk; urban tolerant; highway median

Availability: not native to North America

Description

Height: 15 to 20 feet

Spread: 12 to 20 feet

Crown uniformity: symmetrical

Crown shape: weeping

Crown density: moderate

Growth rate: moderate

Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: alternate (Fig. 3)

Leaf type: odd-pinnately compound

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: ovate

Leaf venation: pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: deciduous

Leaf blade length: less than 2 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: yellow

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: white/cream/gray, yellow

Flower characteristics: showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: pod or pod-like, elongated

Fruit length: 3 to 6 inches, 6 to 12 inches

Fruit covering: dry or hard

Fruit color: yellow, brown

Fruit characteristics: does not attract wildlife; showy; fruit/leaves a litter problem

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: branches droop; not showy; typically multi-trunked; thorns

Pruning requirement: needed for strong structure

Breakage: resistant

Current year twig color: green

Current year twig thickness: thin, medium

Wood specific gravity: unknown

Culture

Light requirement: full sun

Soil tolerances: sand; loam; clay; acidic; alkaline; well-drained; occasionally wet

Drought tolerance: high

Aerosol salt tolerance: moderate

Other

Roots: not a problem

Winter interest: no

Outstanding tree: no

Ozone sensitivity: unknown

Verticillium wilt susceptibility: unknown

Pest resistance: resistant to pests/diseases

Use and Management

The dropping flowers and fruit on the species which are considered a messy nuisance by some people are not a problem for this cultivar. These attributes could make this a superior tree for certain sites. The leaflets are small, creating light shade beneath the tree and are mostly washed away with rain or fall into shrub beds or between the grass blades.

Some trees come from the nursery with multiple trunks or branches clustered together at one spot on the trunk. Buy those with one central trunk growing up the center of the tree or prune the tree to a central leader to create a strong, durable structure. Space branches along the central leader to ensure good branch attachment. It may take several prunings to train the tree to the proper form.

This urban-tough tree is highly recommended for urban planting. Also makes a nice medium-sized patio tree and is well-suited for parking lot planting, creating shade from its spreading canopy. Adapted to restricted soil spaces, tolerates salt spray, and tolerates drought in reasonable soil but not wet soil. Best when planted in full sun.

Many tree cultivars must be grafted or propagated from cuttings. This one reproduces fairly consistently from seed. Sophora species has a few cultivars: 'Fastigiata'—upright habit; 'Pendula'—weeping habit; 'Princeton Upright'—upright form suitable for narrow sites, somewhat smaller than the species; 'Regent'—oval crown and blooms at an early age, has glossy leaves which shed soot and dirt, readily available in nurseries.

Pests

Potato leafhopper kills young stems causing profuse branching or witches broom on small branches. It usually is not a problem on larger trees.

Diseases

Sophora species is generally pest- and disease-free.

Occasionally, scholar tree will get a fungus canker about two-inches or less across, have raised reddish brown margins and light brown centers. The infected stem is killed when the fungus girdles the stem. Another fungus is sometimes found on dead branches on Sophora species. Frost injury may give both fungi an entrance into the tree. Prune out dead, damaged, or diseased branches.

Twig blight or dieback can be a problem occasionally. Prune out infected branches and avoid unnecessary wounding. Keep trees vigorous by regular fertilization.

Powdery mildew forms a fungus mat which looks like a white coating on the leaves. The disease is usually not serious.