Practical
Plants

Maackia amurensis

Chinese Yellow Wood

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Maackia genus in the family Leguminosae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Maackia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
6 m
Spread
6 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - cooked[2][3].

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - heavy, strong, very hard. Used for the interior of houses, utensils, tool handles etc[6][8].

Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
E. Asia - C. and N. Japan.
Habitat
Not known
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in hot water and then sow it in a cold frame in the autumn[4]. The seed can also be pre-soaked and sown in late winter in a greenhouse[9]. 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[9].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most soils and situations, including deep soils over chalk and dry soils[1][4]. Prefers a good soil in a sunny position[1]. Prefers a well-drained sandy soil[5]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c[4]. A polymorphic species[7]. It is closely related to the genus Cladrastis[4], and sometimes included in that genus[5]. Plants flower when quite young[4]. The flowers have a powerful scent of vanilla[5]. Transplants readily, even when fairly large[4], but the mature plants resent pruning[4]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[4].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  5. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  7. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

  8. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  9. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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