Appearance

Phellodendron amurense is a perennial tree that can grow from 35-45 ft. (10-14 m) tall. The tree has a short trunk with spreading branches. The bark is thick and corky.

Foliage

Leaves are opposite, compound (divided into 5-11 leaflets) and 10-15 in. (25-38 cm) long. Leaflets are elliptical, acute at the apex, 2.5-4.5 in. (6-11 cm) long and smell like turpentine when crushed.

Flowers

Flowering occurs in late spring when bunches of small, green flowers develop.

Fruit

Fruits are drupes, 0.25-0.5 in. (0.6-1.3 cm) in diameter and bright green (black when mature).

Ecological Threat

This tree is demonstrating invasive characteristics in suburban and urban fringe forests. It escapes intended plantings to invade and displace native hardwood forests. Note: only female plants have the potential to become invasive. Phellodendron amurense is native to eastern Asia and was introduced into the United States in 1856. Trees prefer full sun and rich soils.

Citations

Rawlins, K.A., R.L. Winston, C.T. Bargeron, D.J. Moorhead, and R. Carroll. 2018. New Invaders of the Northeast and Northcentral United States. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Assessment and Applied Sciences Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. FHTET-2017-04. Retrieved from https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/pdf/FHTET-2017-04_New%20Invaders_NE.pdf

Resources

• Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
• Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance
• Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service

Selected Images

Maps

Invasive Listing Sources

• City of Ann Arbor Michigan Parks and Recreation
• Delaware Invasive Species Council
• Indiana Invasive Species Council - Invasive Plant List
• Indiana Terrestrial Plant Rule
• Invasive Plant Species of West Virginia
• Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council - Watch List
• Maine Invasive Plants
• Maryland Department of Agriculture's Candidates for Listing of Invasive Plants
• Maryland Department of Natural Resources Policy: Restriction on Planting Exotic Invasive Plants
• Maryland Invasive Species Council - Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland
• Massachusetts Invasive Plants Advisory Group List
• Massachusetts Noxious Weeds
• Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List
• Minnesota Noxious Weeds
• National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
• National Park Service, National Capital Region Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
• New Hampshire Invasive Plant Species Watch List
• New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee. 2005. Guide to Invasive Upland Plant Species in New Hampshire. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture,  Markets and Food Plant Industry Division and New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee.
• New Invaders of the Northeast and Northcentral
• New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team 2017 Invasive Species List
• New York Regulated and Prohibited Invasive Species - Prohibited
• Non-Native Invasive Plants of Arlington County, Virginia
• Ohio Invasive Species Council
• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Invasive Plants
• Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas
• Rhode Island Natural History Survey
• WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
• Wisconsin Noxious Weeds
• Wisconsin's Invasive species rule – NR 40

References