Multi-stem Trees
Styphnolobium japonicum
Pagoda tree (formerly Sophora japonica)
Graceful, feathery foliage and creamy summer flowers, combined with real toughness in heat and drought. Styphnolobium japonicum, still widely known as Sophora japonica, is a tree for a changing climate.
Fine, feathery pinnate leaves
Creamy-white flowers in late summer on mature trees
Tolerant of heat, drought and urban conditions
An elegant, airy canopy
Please check before you visit. Our nursery is very well stocked, but what we hold changes with the seasons, so this plant may not always be in stock. Enquire before you head over and we will check availability and the sizes we have for you.
At a glance
Type
Multi-stem tree
Foliage
Deciduous
Seasons of interest
Summer foliage, late summer flowers, autumn colour
Eventual size
Typically over 12 m tall in time
Position
Full sun
Soil
Well-drained, including poor and dry soils
Hardiness
Fully hardy in the UK
Available
A range of sizes and forms. Ask our team for current specimens and pricing.
Why we love it
The pagoda tree has a light, almost tropical elegance, with fine leaves that cast gentle dappled shade.
It copes remarkably well with heat, drought and pollution, which makes it a valuable choice as our summers get hotter. Mature trees bear sprays of creamy flowers in late summer.
How to use it
Ideal for sunny, free-draining gardens, urban spaces and courtyards where you want shade without heaviness.
Planting and aftercare
Plant between autumn and spring in a sunny spot and water through the first two summers. Little pruning is needed; shape in late summer if required.
See it in person
Every plant at Form is hand-selected, none contains new peat, and nothing beats choosing yours by eye. Visit our Row Town showroom in Surrey, just 30 minutes from London, where our team will show you the best of what is on the nursery right now. We deliver across London, Surrey and the Home Counties, and nationwide.
Walk in any time during opening hours and you will be looked after. If you would like dedicated time with a specialist, book a Genus Bar appointment.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes. The pagoda tree was reclassified as Styphnolobium japonicum, but it is still widely sold as Sophora japonica.
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Mature trees flower in late summer, usually once they are well established.
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We keep a very well-stocked nursery, but our stock changes with the seasons, so availability varies. Please email us before you visit and we will check what we have and the sizes available.
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Yes, and we would love you to. Every multi-stem tree is individual, with its own branch structure and character, so we always encourage customers to choose by eye. Our largest specimens are held at our Row Town showroom in Surrey. Walk in any time during opening hours, or book a Genus Bar appointment with one of our specialists. If you can’t visit, we are happy to send photographs of individual trees.
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Yes, we deliver nationwide. Deliveries are arranged by our dedicated in-house operations team, and larger specimens can be offloaded by HI-AB or Moffett where needed. We will always agree the most suitable option with you before delivery.
All our multi-stem trees
Explore every tree in our multi-stem trees collection, or view them all with photographs →
Styphnolobium japonicum
Can’t see what you’re looking for?
Get in touch and we’ll help you find it. Our nursery is very well stocked and we can source almost any plant through our network of trusted growers. Email info@formplants.com, or send us your whole plant list through our bespoke sourcing service.