Sophora japonica 'Pendula' (Japanese pagoda tree weeping form) sapling prices, flowering period, planting and pruning methods, and symbolic meaning

Sophora japonica 'Pendula' is a bud sport variety of the Japanese pagoda tree (Sophora japonica), also called weeping pagoda tree or coiled pagoda tree. It is a tree reaching up to 25 m tall; the bark is grayish brown with longitudinal cracks. Current-year branches are green and hairless. So how much does a Sophora japonica 'Pendula' sapling cost approximately? When does it bloom? How do you plant and prune it? What does it symbolize? According to Fabaceae records, Sophora japonica 'Pendula', as a bud sport variety of the Japanese pagoda tree, usually blooms in July and August and fruits in September and October. In every flowering season, pale yellow inflorescences cover the branches, like a yellow umbrella blocking the view; the flowers are yellowish white or pale yellow, each with 5 petals, with a green center and yellow stamens around the green center, fresh and elegant. The flower language of Sophora japonica 'Pendula' is “crystal clear, beautiful, and free from vulgarity.”

How much does a Sophora japonica 'Pendula' sapling cost approximately?

How do you plant and prune Sophora japonica 'Pendula'?

Planting:

1. Sophora japonica 'Pendula' is naturally fond of light and heat and has some shade tolerance. It can adapt to dry and cold climates and tolerates waterlogging. It is suitable for growing in fertile, well-drained loess soil, and black soil or red soil also works. It requires deep, moist, fertile, well-drained sandy loam. Sophora japonica 'Pendula' is a deep-rooted tree species with a well-developed root system, strong wind resistance, strong sprouting ability, and a long lifespan. It is propagated by grafting, with the Japanese pagoda tree as the rootstock. The graft point is generally 2 m or more above ground, and the grafting method is branch grafting. The best time is in the middle of the second lunar month, when the soil has thawed and before the trees sprout, around Qingming Festival.

2. Sophora japonica 'Pendula' is created by grafting onto the Japanese pagoda tree and cannot reproduce under natural conditions. Before sprouting in spring, take one-year-old branches of Sophora japonica 'Pendula' and graft them using the branch grafting method; they will take shape after 3~5 years of growth. The planting techniques for Sophora japonica 'Pendula' are the same as for the Japanese pagoda tree, requiring fertile soil and water, sufficient light, and smooth drainage.

Pruning:

1. Summer pruning of Sophora japonica 'Pendula'

In summer, Sophora japonica 'Pendula' grows vigorously. In order to form a more perfect tree shape as early as possible and improve its ornamental value, summer pruning is especially important. During the vigorous growth period, the current-year weeping branches are cut back, generally removing 2/3 or 3/4 of the branch, to encourage more branches to emerge at the cut and expand the shape of the crown. When cutting back, the bud at the cut should be an upper bud or a side bud on the branch, so that the new shoots that sprout extend outward in a parabolic shape.

2. Winter pruning of Sophora japonica 'Pendula'

In winter, after the leaves of Sophora japonica 'Pendula' have all fallen, the crossing branches can be seen clearly, so pruning at this time must be more careful and meticulous. First, adjust the shape of the crown, using ropes or galvanized wire to change the growth direction of the branches, pulling branches that are growing close together to positions where branches are missing and fixing them there, so that the branches of the entire crown are evenly distributed. Second, cut away, one by one, the dead, diseased, weak, and overly dense branches inside the crown, then according to the thickness of the branches, cut them back at the highest point of curvature, leaving an upper bud, generally requiring thicker branches to be left longer than thin, weak ones.

3. Special shaping of Sophora japonica 'Pendula'

1. Green corridor pruning method

For Sophora japonica 'Pendula' on both sides of a park entrance, after planting, a trellis can be set up at the entrance, and the branches on both sides near the path can be led onto the trellis so that they grow toward each other. After a few years, when the branches have interwoven and become fixed together, the trellis can be removed. In this way, a green corridor appears at the park entrance, forming a distinctive landscape.

2. Ripple umbrella surface pruning method

In the first year, cut back the reserved branches at the highest point of curvature, leaving an upper bud. In the second year, prune the weeping branches starting from the base, leaving an outer bud at about 15 cm. In the third year, do the same as in the first year, cutting back at the highest point of curvature and leaving an upper bud. After several years in this way, a rippled umbrella surface is formed, which is very beautiful whether planted as a single specimen or in rows.

What does Sophora japonica 'Pendula' symbolize?

The pagoda tree is considered to represent “lu” (official salary and prosperity) and is an auspicious tree species. In feng shui, the pagoda tree is regarded as the king of all trees; planting a pagoda tree can increase one's “lu” and authority, and it also has the function of protecting the home. Sophora japonica 'Pendula' is a variant of the pagoda tree and has even higher ornamental value.