A deciduous tree to 20 m or more tall. Trunk single or sometimes branching near the base. Bark furrowed and peeling. New growth reddish brown to purple. Leaves 5-10 cm long, broadly ovate, heart-shaped at base, round-toothed, waxy blue below, autumn colourings are yellow, red and pink. Male flowers about 2 cm long in the leaf axils. Female flowers with 4-6 carpels; spring. Fruit a curved follicle 1.5-2.5 cm long containing many winged seeds.

China, Japan

Suitable for cool areas only. Fossil evidence suggests that this is a relict genus, once much more widely distributed.

Seed.

A valuable timber tree.

Specimens NSW: Mt Wilson ('Cherry Cottage'). ACT: Australian National University (in front of John Curtin School of Medical Research); Narrabundah (Pullen St).

f. pendulum (Miyoshi) Ohwi is a weeping or mounding variant.

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Cercidiphyllaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.