Maackia Amurensis Chinese Yellow Wood

Maackia Amurensis better known as Chinese Yellow Wood or Amur Maackia, is a small to midsized deciduous tree. With attractive foliage and a broad, rounded habit, this ornamental deciduous tree is an excellent choice for accenting showier specimens in the garden. In the spring, the pinnate leaves unfold silvery-blue, gradually darkening to a medium green tone. The flowering seasons lasts through summer, with clusters of white pea-like flowers borne in upright spikes rising above the foliage. The showy blossoms are pleasantly scented, which attracts pollinators, and are followed by dark brown legumes (seed pods). In the winter, when the tree is completely bare, the bronze-brown, spotted, peeling bark offers interest.

Versatile and trouble-free, Amur Maackia can be successfully grown in any soil, as long as it is well drained.  Although this tree can tolerate dappled shade, for best results and profuse flowering, choose a location in full sun. Considered pest and disease free. As the name suggests, Chinese Yellow Wood is a cultivar native to Eastern Asia. Since it was first discovered on the border between Siberia and China, it does not come as a surprise that Maackia Amurensis can survive even the severest European winters, and that it is fully hardy in the United Kingdom. With a slow growth rate, Amur Maackia can achieve the ultimate height of up to 10 meters, with a crown up to 6 metres in width. Although routine pruning is not needed, this cultivar will appreciate removal of dead and damaged stems in late winter or early spring.  A good candidate for small gardens.

Unassuming at first glance, Chinese Yellow Wood provides texture to the garden for the better part of the year, with a charming display of white flowers in the summer. Easy to grow and to care for, this versatile tree lends itself well to mixed borders or hedges, when planted en masse. If planted near a patio, the dense crown of this decorative cultivar can provide excellent shade. The elegant simplicity of Maackia Amurensis can be beautifully complemented by underplanting it with more striking, colourful shrubs, such as Ceanothus Thyrsiflorus Skylark or Daphne Mezereum.

For more decorative trees, take a look at our collection of attractive evergreen and deciduous cultivars. If you’re looking for more plants suitable for small gardens, we have various low-growing shrubs that easily fit in any landscape.