Styphnolobium japonicum

A medium deciduous tree originating in East Asia. Surprisingly, despite its name, it is not indigenous to Japan, but rather to China and Korea. It is very common in Israel It is relatively resistant to hot conditions and a lack of water, but is sensitive to prolonged cold weather. It is It is rather sensitive to air pollution, so it will not thrive in dense urban or industrial areas. The tree trunk is brown-gray. When the tree is young, the trunk is smooth, and, as it matures, it will become grooved. New branches and twigs come in olive green. The tree’s foliage is green and impressive until autumn. That is, the leaves do not change color before they fall (sometimes they turn somewhat yellow), so its fresh look lasts most of the year. The tree does not require much water and requires regular watering only until it is established, but after that watering in warm months will keep the foliage looking fresh and vital. The tree blooms at the end of the summer with small white flowers that are very fragrant and rather similar to sweet peas. The flowers fall from the tree nearly simultaneously and create a delicate white blanket beneath it. The uniqueness of the tree’s flowers is that they appear relatively late in summer, after most other trees have already ceased to blossom. Note that the tree begins flowering only after about ten years, but the sight of the flowers at the ends of the branches is worth the relatively long wait. The tree’s fruits are delicate green pods that turn yellow and then brown in fall. The pods are also pleasant-looking, and they contain black bean-like seeds. The tree sheds its leaves early in comparison with other trees. The tree grows relatively fast, which makes it structurally weak, and its branches tend to break. Due to this, it will not have a particularly long life. The weeping cultivar of the Styphnolobium japonicum is considered stronger and more durable; its beautiful green foliage and its delicate and fragrant flowers make it a useful and attractive ornamental tree throughout Europe and North America, and of course also in Israel.

The tree has various uses in folk medicine in East Asia, and there are folk legends associated with it in China and Japan.