Japanese pagodatree was once reserved for planting around temples and at the graves of scholars and other distinguished individuals. Growing 30 to 50 feet tall, it has a nice rounded outline. It is a great specimen tree for the home landscape. An ornamental tree for late summer, it features creamy-white fragrant flowers, borne in 6- to 12-inch pendulous panicles, that adorn the tree in late July and August. The twisted fruits, which resemble pea pods, are also unique: they start out green, turn to yellow and finally age to brown. Glossy olive-green branches and twigs add winter interest. The sophora tree, a native of China and Korea, is highly valued because it flowers in late summer when few trees are in bloom. This tree prefers well-drained soils and is exceptionally tolerant of polluted urban conditions.