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Maackias

The Maackias are a genus of 8 species of potentially very valuable ornamental trees within the greater Legume family. They do
best in full sun on rich light well drained soil. They both are very drought, heat, alkaline and clay tolerant but does not like road salt. Not prone to any pests or diseases either. Soak seeds in hot water for 24 hours before sowing for better germination rate. They can be soaked at up to 190 F. Maackias can also be grown from cuttings taken during summer.
Pruning is best done to shape when tree is young because large wounds do not heal quickly. Little pruning is generally needed anyway.
Like many Legumes; the roots on the Maackias fix ( produce ) their own nitrogen.

Maackia amurensis ( Amur Maackia )

The Amur Maackia is a medium-sized, dense-canopied, spreading legume tree, fast growing at first but quickly slowing down within a few years. It can live up to 250 years. Records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 6 feet; largest on record - 82 x 60 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet; largest in Connecticut - 50 x 50 feet @ Westerfie; largest in Maryland - 30 x 50 x 2 feet in Baltimore.
Its leaves reach up to 12 inches long with 9 - 11 oval leaflets up to 2.5 inches. The foliage is silvery blue grey in spring turning dark green in summer.
The erect flower clusters are up to 8 inches in length, creamy white and born in July.
The twigs are grayish with rounded, brown, small buds.
The bark is orange and marked with conspicuous lenticels.
It is native to northeast Asia. Hardy zones 1 to 7 and extremely drought tolerant.

* photos taken on May 6 2010 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD




* photo of unknown source on internet


* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


Starburst
a vigorous selection

Maackia chinensis ( Chinese Maackia )
A broadly spreading, medium size tree reaching up to 50 feet or more, that is native to China. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 2.5 feet; largest on record - 80 x 60 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet.
The pinnate leaves, up to 12 inches in length, are composed of 9 to 13 leaflets up to 2 x 0.7 inches in size. The short stalked leaflets are stunning silky silvery blue-gray in spring turning to medium green in summer though still downy beneath.
The white, pealike flowers are up to 0.5 inches in length and are borne on dense, upright panicles, up to 8 x 5 inches in size. The panicles are clustered at the ends of the shoots in mid summer. Small pods up to 2 inches in length follow.
The bark is orange with conspicuous lenticels.
Hardy zones 4 to 7