Common Name: Chinese Yellow Wood

General Information

Maackia amurensis is a deciduous shrub or small tree that can grow up to 15 metres tall but is more commonly 6 - 9 metres in cultivation. The bole can be up to 60cm in diameter[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. The wood is of high quality and has sometimes been harvested on a commercial basis for export. The plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental and is said to make an excellent street tree[].
Maackia amurensis has a wide natural distribution range and it has also been introduced in some countries (in northern America and Europe). At present there are no major known threats to the species and the population in believed to be stable. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].
This species is not generally considered to have invasive potential, but there is one isolated report from New South Wales, Australia, of more than 20 plants (some producing seed) growing from seed on disturbed soil downwind from the parent cultivated garden plant[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Russian Far East, northern China, northern and central Japan, Korea.

Habitat

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

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	6.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Maackia amurensis is a very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c when fully dormant[].
Prefers a good soil in a sunny position[]. Succeeds in most soils and situations, including deep soils over chalk and dry soils[, ]. Prefers a well-drained sandy soil[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
A slow-growing tree[].
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[].
A polymorphic species[]. It is closely related to the genus Cladrastis[], and sometimes included in that genus[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
There are conflicting reports on whether or not this species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, so it is unclear as to whether it fixes atmospheric nitrogen[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

An extract of the branches is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin protector[].
An extract of the stems is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a humectant, skin conditioner and skin protector[].

A yellow dye is obtained from the bark[].

The dark-coloured wood is close-grained, heavy, strong, very hard and durable. It is used for heavy construction, chests, furniture, the interior of houses, railway ties, fencing, utensils, tool handles etc[, , , ].

Propagation

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[].