Maackia amurensis, commonly known as the Amur maackia or Japanese silver tree, is a deciduous species belonging to the legume family, Fabaceae. Native to eastern Asia including China, Korea, Japan, and Russia, this tree is admired for its ornamental features: attractive flowers, striking young foliage, and decorative bark. Though still a connoisseur’s tree, it deserves much broader recognition for use in gardens as well as public landscapes.
A Spectacular Eye-Catcher in Every Season
The Amur maackia grows 8–12 meters tall and wide, forming a rounded to broad, umbrella-shaped crown. It often grows as a multi-stemmed tree or with a short trunk, and even as it matures, it maintains an open crown structure. Its compound leaves create a soft, transparent shade.
Spring foliage is especially striking: the young leaves are covered with silver hairs, making the entire tree appear as if dusted with silver or even as though it is already in bloom. Later, the leaves turn glossy dark green with a bluish underside. Each compound leaf consists of 7–11 leaflets, with a prominent terminal leaflet, resembling its relative, the black locust (Robinia). In autumn, the leaves turn a warm mix of orange-yellow and brown.
In July and August, Maackia amurensis produces dense clusters of creamy-white flowers in upright panicles a rare bloom time for trees, making it a valuable nectar source for insects. The flowers are followed by pods, 2–3 cm long, containing small brown seeds. Similar to Cercis pods, they remain on the tree throughout winter. Its gray-brown bark is smooth when young and develops elegant ridges and grooves with age.
Versatile and Resilient
Originating from cold regions, the Amur maackia is extremely hardy. It adapts well to many soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. Drought tolerance makes it highly suitable for urban planting sites, earning it the title of a true “tree of the future.” However, it requires ample space due to its broad crown, which also provides excellent shade, perfect for parks.
Beyond its ornamental value, Maackia amurensis also has practical uses. Its hard, durable wood is employed in woodworking and furniture making. In traditional Chinese medicine, parts of the tree are used to treat ailments such as coughs, fever, and rheumatism.
A Tree for the Future
Maackia amurensis is a versatile and attractive tree, suitable for many applications and appealing in every season. Like other members of the legume family, it fixes nitrogen in symbiosis with Bradyrhizobium bacteria in the soil, making it especially valuable for poorer sites. With its beauty, adaptability, and resilience, it is an excellent choice for landscape architects, gardeners, and urban planners, especially in a future where extreme weather events will become increasingly common.
