Habitat

• native to eastern coast of United States
• hardy to zone 3

Habit and Form

• a small, deciduous tree or large shrub
• dense, rounded crown
• 15' to 20' tall
• frequently multistemmed and suckering
• medium texture
• slow growth rate

Summer Foliage

• alternate leaf arrangement
• pinnate, trifoliate, deciduous leaves
• leaves 2.5 to 5" long
• with middle leaflet largest, possibly with short petiole
• ovate to elliptical leaflet shape
• margins entire or with minor serrations
• shiny, dark green leaf color
• pungent when bruised

Autumn Foliage

• yellow-green fall color

Flowers

• small, greenish-white flowers
• fragrant
• flowers borne in terminal corymbs, 2" to 3" in diameter
• blooms in early June

Fruit

• circular-winged samara
• 1" in diameter
• green, changing to brownish
• persistent

Bark

• dark gray bark
• warty protrusions
• reddish-brown stems

Culture

• prefers well-drained soil
• full sun or shade
• moist soil

Landscape Use

• for naturalized areas
• for fragrant flowers
• massing or grouping

Liabilities

• none serious
• leaf spot and rust is possible
• spider mites possible in dry sites

ID Features

• buds are silky-hairy, not raised above the leaf scar
• no true terminal bud
• alternate leaf arrangement
• trifoliate leaves
• leaf scars are U-shaped with unusually straight inner margins
• leaves pungent when bruised
• circular, winged samara fruit

Propagation

• by cuttings
• by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

None are common, but a few exist that deserve greater use and availability.

subsp. polyadenia - Normally found in the mountains, this variant grows lower into a shrub. It features heavy fruit production.

'Aurea' - This is a yellow-leaved form with bright gold young leaves that fade to light yellow-green by the middle of summer.

'Glauca' - A distinct departure from the species, this selection offers blue-green foliage.