Amur cork tree
Phellodendron amurense
Family: Rutaceae
What it is like
A small tree. It loses its leaves during the year. The bark is yellowish-grey. It becomes furrowed and develops corky ridges with age. The leaves occur in opposite pairs. They are made up of 5-13 leaflets. These are on a central stalk 10-15 cm long. Each leaflet is 6-10 cm long. They are narrow and oval. They taper to the tip. The edges are smooth. They are shiny green on the upper surface. They have a smell. The leaf scars are U shaped. The flowers are small and yellowish-green. They occur in clusters at the ends of branches. The male and female flowers are on separate trees. The fruit are small berries. These are 10 mm across. They are dark blue and have a scent and have 5 hard seeds.
There are about 10 Phellodendron species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is native to NE Asia. It grows near streams in the mountains. It is hardy. It grows well on limestone soils but will grow on most soils. It suits hardiness zones 3-9. Arboretum Tasmania.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, Canada, Central Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Manchuria, North America, Russia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Tasmania
How it is used for food
The bark is used in brewing.
Edible parts
Fruit, bark
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or by cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Amurski plutnik, Hwangbyeoknamu, Sikerpe