# Amur Corktree (*phellodendron amurense*)

The Amur Corktree is a beautiful tree that can grow tall and wide! Its bark is corky and is fun to touch, making it a favorite among kids exploring nature.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** It thrives in forests and urban areas across Asia and parts of North America.
- **Also known as:** Chinese Corktree, Cork Tree, Phellodendron

![Amur Corktree](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Phellodendron_amurense_Morton.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Bruce Marlin, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phellodendron_amurense_Morton.jpg)

## Appearance

The Amur Corktree is a deciduous tree known for its deeply furrowed, spongy, cork-like bark. It has glossy, dark green compound leaves that turn bright yellow in autumn, and produces clusters of small, black, berry-like fruits.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Sapindales
- **Family:** Rutaceae
- **Genus:** Phellodendron

## Interesting facts

- Its bark feels like a giant sponge, truly unique among trees!
- Native to Asia, it's often planted in parks worldwide for beauty.
- Some parts were used to make yellow dye in ancient times.
- The fruits smell like turpentine when crushed, a surprising aroma!

## Special abilities

- **Cork Armor:** Amur Corktree has thick, spongy bark that helps protect it from wildfires and extreme temperatures.
- **Pest Deterrent:** Its leaves contain special oils and compounds that naturally deter many hungry insects from eating them.
- **Tough Roots:** Amur Corktree can grow in challenging soils, allowing it to thrive where other trees struggle.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 1000-1500 cm
- **Spread:** 1000-1500 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar from its greenish-yellow flowers.
- **Eaten by:** [Cedar Waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing) (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) — Feeds on its small, black, bitter berries.
- **Shelter:** [White-footed Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-footed-mouse) (*Peromyscus leucopus*) — Utilizes its hollows and dense foliage for shelter.

## Traits

- [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Amur Corktree?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Amur Corktree?

1000-1500 cm

### How wide does Amur Corktree spread?

1000-1500 cm

### How big are the flowers on Amur Corktree?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Amur Corktree bloom?

Late spring to early summer

### Is Amur Corktree edible?

No

### Is Amur Corktree toxic?

Mild

### What is Amur Corktree's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Guilford Historic Town Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/guilford-historic-town-center) — Connecticut, US · Historic District
- [Old Mill Site Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-mill-site-historic-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District
- [Grand Isle State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grand-isle-state-park) — Louisiana, US · State Park
- [Mount Vernon Woods Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-vernon-woods-park) — Virginia, US · Park

[View all places to see Amur Corktree](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/amur-corktree)

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Amur Corktree: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/amur-corktree)