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Indian Quassiawood Picrasma quassioides

Previously known as:

  • Picrasma ailanthoides
Phonetic Spelling
pik-rass-ma kwash-ee-OY-deez
Description

Indian Quassiawood is a deciduous tree or shrub native to southern Asia in the Quassia family. It grows 30 to 50 feet tall with a spread of 20 to 25 feet. In spring, 3-6 inch cymes of small green to yellow-green flowers appear that are followed by clusters of red to black berry-like drupes in fall. Fall leaf color is a bright yellow to orange to red.

This tree prefers moist well-drained soils in sun to partial shade and is adaptable to both sandy and clay loams. Use as a small shade tree or as a specimen for the attractive foliage, drupes and fall color.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Picrasma
    Species:
    ailanthoides
    Family:
    Simaroubaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    An extracted from the bark and used as a substitute for hops in beer making. Bark or wood used to make an insecticide.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China, Japan, Korea
    Edibility:
    buds used to make tea
    Dimensions:
    Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Description:
    Red pea shaped fruit
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    > 6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Yellow-green flowers with 4-5 petals in 3-6 inch long cymes in May
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Compound leaves with 7-15 leaflets, margins irregularly toothed. 1-4 inches long by .5-1.5 inches wide. Orange/Red/yellow fall color
  • Bark:
    Bark Description:
    Smooth dark grey-brown bark
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Specimen