Amur Maackia Quick Facts
Botanical name: Maackia amurensis
Height: To 30 feet (10m)
Spread: To 30 feet (10m)
Sun exposure: Full sun or part shade
Soil requirements: Well-draining
Hardiness zones: USDA 3-7
When to plant: Spring or fall
Not everyone has heard of amur maackia. The maackia tree (maackia amurensis) is a great size for smaller backyards. With a compact and rounded growing structure, it offers exfoliating mottled bark, silvery leaves in spring that darken in summer, and fragrant white flowers growing in clusters in grapes in midsummer.
If you're considering planting an amur maackia, you’ll want to read more about this interesting specimen tree.
Amur Maackia Care
For all it offers in ornamental value, you might think it’s a difficult tree to grow. Far from it, although it does have its own cultural care requirements.
Light
The amur maackia tree prefers a site with full sun, but it will accept partial sun as well.
Water
Water regularly after transplant. As it establishes, this slow-growing tree requires little irrigation and tolerates dry soil well. Water in times of drought.
Temperature & Humidity
Amur maackia accepts cold winters but does not do well in high heat.
Soil
The tree is not picky about soil as long as it drains well.
Fertilizer
This deciduous tree grows well without added fertilizer.
Problems, Pests, & Diseases
One of the advantages of this small tree is the fact that it has few disease or insect pest issues.
Pruning
When it comes to amur maakia care, pruning is important to create a strong structure. Prune the tree when it is young since wounds can take a long time to heal. Do the trim in summer just after the blossoms fade rather than winter. Leave strong branches evenly spaced around the trunk.
Propagation
This compact tree can be propagated from seeds or cuttings. Most gardeners buy a young tree from the garden store.
Repotting
If you are growing the amur maakia in a container, you may have to repot it as the tree grows. However, it is a slow-growing tree so expect to repot it fairly infrequently.
Varieties
There are a few cultivars available in commerce. These are two of the easiest to find:
- MaacNificent® Amur maackia (Maackia amurensis 'JFS-Schichtel1') - If you live in USDA zone 3, consider this cold-hardy cultivar. It offers yellow fall foliage and grows taller than it is wide.
- Summertime™ Amur maackia (Maackia amurensis 'Summertime') - ‘Summertime’ is also good for USDA zone 3, and was developed by the University of Minnesota. It is shorter – topping out at 20 feet (6.6m) and 15 feet (5m) wide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is amur maackia messy?
Although amur maackia drops its leaves in winter, this does not make a litter problem.
How big do amur maackia trees get?
Growing in the wild in its natural habitat in Russia, northeastern China, Japan, and the Korean peninsula. the tree can grow to 60 feet (20m). In cultivation, it stays about half that size.