Chinese Yellow Wood, Amur maackia
Maackia amurensis

Family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae

What it is like

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Rounded, Vase.

Maackia amurensis is a deciduous Shrub growing to 6 m (19ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from October to November. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 6

Where it is found

Forests on hill slopes at elevations of 300 - 900 metres in Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mogol and Shandong Provinces, China.

E. Asia - China, northern and central Japan, Korea.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Young leaves - cooked.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 4

Wood - heavy, strong, very hard. Used for the interior of houses, utensils, tool handles etc. Nitrogen Fixer.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

Landscape Uses:Pest tolerant, Specimen, Street tree. Succeeds in most soils and situations, including deep soils over chalk and dry soils. Prefers a good soil in a sunny position. Prefers a well-drained sandy soil. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c. A polymorphic species. It is closely related to the genus Cladrastis, and sometimes included in that genus. Plants flower when quite young. The flowers have a powerful scent of vanilla. Transplants readily, even when fairly large, but the mature plants resent pruning. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. Special Features:Not North American native, Attractive flowers or blooms. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 7 through 5. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a standard with a non-suckering single trunk.

Propagating it: Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in hot water and then sow it in a cold frame in the autumn. The seed can also be pre-soaked and sown in late winter in a greenhouse. Variable germination. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Root cuttings 4cm long in December. Good percentage.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 4-7

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cladrastis amurensis.