Maackia chinensis Seeds | Chinese Maackia
LATIN NAME: Maackia chinensis
COMMON NAME: Chinese Maackia
Plant Profile
Chinese Maackia (Maackia chinensis) grows as a handsome, upright, open, deciduous tree in the pea family, native to warm forests of the eastern Asia, while it is prized for its fine, white, pea-like flowers. In pea family it is white-flowered, nitrogen-fixing tree of warm forests, a species that feeds ground as it shades the garden. Given room and time, it reaches roughly Fifteen metres. Its open flowers are a reliable stop for bees and other pollinating visitors. Add these qualities together and you have a species well worth a place in the garden.
Science & Biotechnology
Within the pea family, Maackia chinensis is of continuing interest to researchers working on plant diversity, seed biology and the selection of improved garden forms. The Chinese maackia holds a recognised place in soil-ecology papers of pea trees, and partnership between its roots and soil bacteria that draws nitrogen from air has kept ecologists interested for years. Raising it from seed today is a matter of ordinary good practice rather than specialist skill.
Uses & Benefits
Chinese Maackia works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. In park and the garden, the Chinese maackia is white-flowered tree that feeds the ground. Its pea-like flowers feed bees, its flat, brown pods feed birds, and open, leafy crown gives garden a fine, light shade while roots feed the soil. Tough, adaptable growth has made it a valued tree of park, street and the garden. It establishes readily and then requires nothing out of the ordinary.
Maackias are refined summer-flowering trees with pea-family blossoms that bees adore; they are grown as ornamentals and fix nitrogen in poor soils.
Growing from Seed
Chinese Maackia is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Use a loose, well-drained seed compost, sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly, and keep everything evenly moist in bright light. Move strong seedlings into individual pots, keep them in good light, and set them out when the weather and their size agree.
Our Take
Reaching fifteen metres, it needs room to show its full form. Attention to moisture in the first weeks pays off; later, the plant is forgiving.
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