Species Amur cork tree
woody, brown trunk and branches with a green crown

Amur cork tree

Phellodendron amurense

Amur cork tree (Phellodendron amurense) is an elegant and beautiful deciduous tree that is native to East Asia. It will reach up to 30 metres (98 ft) in height and 15 metres (49 ft) in width at maturity. The yellow-green foliage turns golden yellow in autumn. It produces clusters of small yellow-green flowers that are followed by dark green, thin-walled fruit. The bark is rugged and ridged with a corky texture. Amur cork tree will thrive in moist to wet soils, preferring growing in full sun. It is a hardy, long-lived tree which is an attribute to any landscape.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Air Layering Propagation,Grafting Propagation,Cutting,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 7

Flowers:

Yellowish green Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Thorny:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

The Amur cork tree should be watered deeply every 10-14 days during growing season. Water until the soil is saturated and allow the top inch of soil to dry before watering again. Pay attention to the environment, trees in drier areas may need to be watered more often. During the winter months, reduce watering to every 20-30 days. In very cold climates, you may need to stop watering altogether to allow the tree to experience a brief winter dormancy.

sunlight

Amur cork tree (Phellodendron amurense) requires direct sunlight for a minimum of 4 to 6 hours per day. For optimal growth and flowering, this species thrives best in full sun, however it can tolerate partial shade. It grows best in warm climates with temperatures between 55-70°F. During the late spring and summer months, the Amur cork tree should receive the majority of its light between 10am and 5pm. During the winter, the tree should get some light between 10am and 4pm.

pruning

Pruning an Amur cork tree is essential to maintaining its overall health and structure. Pruning should be done in late winter, when the tree is still dormant. Begin by removing any dead, diseased, or broken branches. As the tree matures, thin out any crossing or rubbing branches, and selectively prune lower branches to open the tree canopy to light and air circulation. Make sure to avoid pruning more than 1-third of the tree in any given season. Some light pruning may also be done at other times of the year.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

The Amur cork tree typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map