Styphnolobium japonicum (Stiff-no-lobe-ee-um)
formerly Sophora japonica are distinctively beautiful
trees when covered in profuse blossoms during the
month of August. Known by many as the scholar's tree
and/or pagoda tree they are indigenous to China and
Korea in spite of its misleading specific name. During
the Chou Dynasty (1120 - 240 B.C.) in China these trees
were often planted near tombs of high officials and scholars.
Introduced into Japan by Buddhist priests perhaps a thousand years ago for planting around
temples led to its other common name, Japanese pagoda tree.
 
Its first introduction into Western Europe is credited to a French Jesuit priest, Father Pierre
d'Incarville (1706-57) who studied botany before commencing his missionary efforts in China.
In about 1747 he collected seeds from trees growing in Peking that he sent to the Jardin des
Plantes in Paris where they were successfully grown in French soil. By 1753 it was then also
growing in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England. At the beginning of the nineteenth century
it would be growing in gardens in the United States.
 
At maturity these large trees may reach 50-80 feet in height with broadly oval or flattened
crowns. The refined 6-10" long compound leaves are composed of 7-15 leaflets, each 1-2"
long. These compound leaves provide a light dappled shade and the small leaflets cause little
autumn maintenance concerns.
 
It is the erect 12" long branching panicles of creamy-white flowers that focus our attention
though during the languid summer days. As a member of the pea family the shape of individual
flowers may be familiar to many. Each ½" flower consists of an upright standard petal, two
lateral wing petals and two slightly fused bottom petals referred to as the keel. The flowers
opening over a period of several weeks ultimately mask the ground white as they wilt and fall.
If successfully pollinated and fertilized, primarily by bees, the flowers will develop 2-4" long
green pods with up to six seeds that when fully mature dangle delightfully as if weighted
ornaments.
 
On your next visit to the Cemetery keep an eye out for Mount Auburn's scholar's/pagoda
trees on Mistletoe Path, Buttercup Path, Opal Path, Sibyl Path, Hummingbird Path, Ailanthus
Path, Story Road, Magnolia Ave., Vesper Ave., or Western Ave., in addition to  several other
locations.  We currently have five S. japonica 'Pendula' (weeping habit) and 2 S. japponica
'Regent' (bred to start flowering when still young).

Learn more about Mount Auburn's horticultural collections.