Habitat

• native to Manchuria
• hardy to zone 4

Habit and Form

• a deciduous small tree
• grows 20' to 30' tall
• at least as wide as tall
• rounded shape
• foliage mostly toward the outer part of the canopy
• short main trunk that splits into many main branches 2' to 3' from the ground
• neat clean attractive form

Summer Foliage

• alternate, pinnately compound leaves
• leaves 8" to 12" long
• 7 to 11 leaflets per leaf
• leaflets are 1.5" to 3.5" long and elliptic to ovate
• color is dark gray-green or olive-green
• hairs on emerging shoots and leaves makes them appear silvery
• high quality and attractive

Autumn Foliage

• no color develops
• leaves drop green or brown

Flowers

• small dull, white pea-like flowers
• in upright clusters
• clusters are 4" to 6" long
• bloom time is June and July
• flowers are not overwhelmingly showy but are nice for their summer appearance
• like most legume trees, heavy blooming does not occur each year

Fruit

• a 2" to 3" long flat pod
• changes from green to brown

Bark

• exfoliates in curls
• color is an interesting amber or copper color with greenish undertones
• bark that isn't exfoliating is shiny and looks as if it were varnished
• an ornamental asset

Culture

• full sun is best
• seems to prefer loose, well-drained soils
• soil pH is not an important factor
• easily transplanted
• fixes nitrogen

Landscape Use

• for nice foliage and form
• for attractive bark
• for summer flowers
• excellent small tree for residences
• for difficult sites

Liabilities

• no serious problems
• have seen Japanese beetles feeding on foliage
• may not bloom well every year
• hard to locate to purchase

ID Features

• dull white pea-like flowers in summer
• curly exfoliating, yet shiny amber bark
• odd-pinnately compound leaves
• short main trunk
• broad rounded and refined outline

Propagation

• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

• none