Maackia chinensis

Chinese Maackia is in the pea or Fabaceae family and occurs naturally in central and western China. It is a small, rounded deciduous tree that can reach up to 12 m tall. It is closely related to a similar in appearance to the yellowwood tree (Cladrastis kentukea).

• Compound leaves are silvery gray-green, alternate (odd-pinnate), up to 25 cm long, with 11–13 opposite dark green ovate leaflets 5–7 cm long and 3–4 cm across. They have no developing fall colours.
• Flowers are dull- white, pea-like and develop in upright clusters 10-15 cm long.
• This tree is very similar to Amur Maackia (M. amurensis), except its leaves are pubescent beneath and its flowers are slightly larger.
• Fruit is a flat seed pod 5–7 cm long, similar to those of the eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis).
• Bark is copper-brown and peeling a bit with age.