Maackia amurensis

Description

Maackia – There are about 8 species of slow growing trees and shrubs in this genus. They occur in woodland in Eastern Asia. They are grown for their foliage, flowers, and exfoliating, copper bark. The leaves are alternate and pinnate, each with up to 17 pairs of leaflets and a single terminal one, which have fine hairs underneath. In summer it bears dense, upright, terminal racemes of small, pea like white, cream, or yellow flowers, blooming even on very young trees. Flowers are follow by 2″ compressed, linear-oblong seed pods. Maackia make an unusual specimen trees. Grow in moderately fertile, well drained, humus rich, neutral to acidic soil in full sun. M. amurensis – This open, spreading tree from Northeastern China grows 50-60′ feet tall and half as wide. It has peeling coppery brown bark. It produces pinnate, dark green leaves, 8-12″ long, with 7-11 ovate leaflets. In mid and late summer it bears upright racemes, 4-6″ long, followed by flattened seed pods, to 2″ long, with rigid stems Zones 5-7