Japanese Pagoda Tree

Piece description from the artist

Some notes on things I found out about this tree, most text simply copied and pasted from various sites:

It’s called the Chinese Scholar’s Tree / Japanese Pagoda Tree. It was first classified as coming from Japan, but is actually native to China. It’s been reported that the last emperor of the Ming dynasty, Chongzhen, hanged himself on one of these trees as his palace was overtaken by peasants.

The Chinese name for the tree (槐) is composed of the word 木 ("wood") and 鬼 ("demon"). In folklore, it is said that a cowherder once built a home out of this species of tree, and within a month his entire family was suddenly found dead, with no signs of foul play. It was therefore believed that demons are drawn to this tree and it is therefore not appropriate to use its wood to build homes. In addition, in the wild, other species of tree rarely grow near it.

It is Member of the pea family, which means its roots can fix nitrogen in soils. The leaves have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant qualities. Tea from the bark thought to stop bleeding and burns.

The tree is tolerant to city conditions and frequently found growing near Buddhist Temples. It is pleasing to the eye, particularly suited to the picturesque tastes of the Victorian era.

The first record of the Pagoda tree in the United States appears (under its earlier name Sophora japonica) in the 1811 catalog of the Elgin Botanic Garden in New York City; this first botanic garden in the United States served both as a garden for medicinal plants and a pleasure ground for the city residents.

In the late 20th century, as urban conditions of compacted soil, air pollution, road salt, limited root runs, and hot, dry conditions make tree survival in the city increasingly problematic, landscape architects are beginning to search out tree species that are adapted to living under such conditions. The Pagoda tree is one such species, although it has some features that make it less useful as a street tree. The main problem is its great variability in habit, with a tendency for low floppy branches that interfere with pedestrian and vehicular traffic. In addition, the species, although moderately fast growing overall, tends to be a bit slower growing when young. As, as already noted, the Pagoda tree usually does not flower until 10 or 12 years of age.

NYC suggests planting the upright cultivatars sparingly. perhaps due to the fallen leaves being considered as “messy”

“As long as we live in cities, we should look to the Pagoda tree to provide an oasis of green and a cascade of fragrant flowers on a hot summer day.”