A new woody plant selection, KoolKat Katsura tree, was introduced by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and the NDSU Research Foundation. This is the 60th new plant release developed by the NDSU Woody Plant Improvement Program led by Todd West, professor of plant science.
KoolKat is a cold-hardy selection that has survived without damage in USDA climatic zone 3a at temperatures as low as -37 degrees Fahrenheit. This single plant selection is unique in that it has early fall dormancy compared to the species, which aids in increasing the winter hardiness. All other traits are similar to the species, with cordate (heart) shaped leaves emerging reddish-purple in the spring and changing to blue-green as they mature for summer. In autumn, fall color is yellow to apricot in color depending on the year.
Mature height will be 35 to 40 feet with a width of 20 to 25 feet.
The NDSU Woody Plant Improvement Program has served the Northern Great Plains for more than 65 years, beginning germplasm trial evaluations in 1954. In 1974, NDSU purchased 80-acres near Absaraka, North Dakota, and the NDSU Horticulture Research Farm was established.
NDSU woody plant introductions are currently being propagated for sale by commercial wholesale firms in Australia, Canada, England and 35 nurseries in 14 of the United States. This project has introduced 60 woody plants for production and sale with increased disease tolerance and winter hardiness for landscapes. The first introduction from the program in 1986 was a flower bud hardy Forsythia hybrid, ‘Meadowlark’, which was a collaborative release with South Dakota State University, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and the USDA North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station.
As a student-focused, land-grant, research university, we serve our citizens.