Where the straight species grows into a towering 75-foot specimen, 'Pendula' makes itself at home in a courtyard or intimate garden, topping out around a third of that height with branches that weep and droop in increasingly dramatic fashion as the tree matures. The effect is architectural rather than floral: this cultivar rarely flowers or sets fruit, so it earns its place entirely through form. Multiple trunks can develop naturally, though with early training a single clean trunk is achievable. Established plants show good resistance to storm damage, a useful quality given the long pendulous branch structure.

Plant in full sun for the densest growth, though partial shade is tolerated. Rich, moist, well-drained sandy loam produces the best results, and the tree handles urban pollutants and summer heat once it has settled in. Like its parent species, expect slow early growth and allow a decade before judging its garden character. Pruning for clearance under the draping canopy is the main maintenance task as the tree ages, and it responds well to shaping in winter.