Amur maackia (Maackia) is a small deciduous tree with a broad, rounded canopy. Typically, it grows in cultivation at a slow-to-moderate rate to a height of 20-30 feet (to 60 feet in wild). This compact growing tree is an ideal fit in smaller landscapes. A botanical member of the Pea family (Fabaceae), it grows in the region of the Amur River in Manchuria and Korea and eastern Russia and China (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 7).

Compound, odd-pinnate, dark olive green leaves (7-13 leaflets each) are attractive in summer. The deciduous compound leaves emerge silvery-green in spring changing to medium green in summer. Each compound leaf measures 8 to 12 inches long and open grayish-green and matures to dark green.  Expect a very slight reddish leaf color change in autumn.

Maackia prefers in full sun to part shade and moist, well-drained soil that is either acidic or alkaline. Its roots enrich the soil by adding nitrogen. It grows in a wide range of soil conditions. Florida horticulturists report that maackia is highly drought tolerant. Maackia has no serious insect or disease problems.

Few landscape trees bloom in early summer. Its fragrant oft-white pea-like flowers start to open in mid-June (In Tennessee). Blooms are clustered in showy 4 to 6 inch bundles and lightly fragrant flowers are pollinated by bees. Flowers are followed by flat 2-3 inches long seed pods, legume pods look like redbuds (Cercis).

Mottled olive-green bark adds to winter interest. Bark is copper-brown and starts peeling with age, a winter asset.

Available Cultivars:

MaacNificent® (M. amurensis ‘JFS-Schichtel1’) – very cold hardy cultivar (zone 3) with a vase-shaped habit and yellow fall color; grows 30 feet high x 20 feet wide.

Summertime™ –  a more cold hardy cultivar (zone 3) selected by University of Minnesota.  A round form; grows 15 to 20 feet high x 12 to 15 feet wide.

subsp ‘Buergeri’ – 20 to 30 feet tall (zone 4 hardy)

Amur maackia