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Pterocarya stenoptera is often confused with:
Pterocarya tonkinensis A Tonkin wingnut tree grows in J.C. Raulston arboretum (2011)
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Callicarpa americana Callicarpa americana in summer in Moore County
Euonymus Euonymus spp.
Sassafras albidum Form

Chinese Wingnut Pterocarya stenoptera

Phonetic Spelling
ter-oh-KAIR-ee-uh sten-OP-ter-uh
Description

Large pendulous shade tree in the walnut or Juglandaceae family. Dappled shade; expansive roots on soil surface; tough dependable tree; strong wood. This tree is similar to Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Caucasian wingnut) except the midribs (rachis) of its compound leaves have toothed, often serrate wings. New foliage is downy and young twigs are covered with tawny down. Non-showy yellow-green fall leaf color but brown wingnut fruits are showy in the fall.

Seasons of Interest:

Nut: Fall

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems but is considered high maintenance because fruits, foliage and twigs often produce a significant amount of litter.

Form: Pendulous branching; open canopy; some times multistemmed; spreading branches

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#pendulous#fall interest#high maintenance#dappled shade#showy fruits#clay soils tolerant
 
Pterocarya stenoptera
P. stenoptera growth habit Wendy Cutler CC BY 2.0
Pterocarya stenoptera
P. stenoptera leaf detail Plant Image Library CC-BY-SA 2.0
Pterocarya stenoptera
P. stenoptera seed pods Wendy Cutler CC BY 2.0
Pterocarya stenoptera
P. stenoptera catkins Mwms 1916 CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Bark
Bark Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Full Form
Full Form Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Fruit and Leaves
Fruit and Leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Pterocarya stenoptera
Fruit and Leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#pendulous#fall interest#high maintenance#dappled shade#showy fruits#clay soils tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Pterocarya
    Species:
    stenoptera
    Family:
    Juglandaceae
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China, Japan to Taiwan
    Dimensions:
    Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 40 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Multi-stemmed
    Open
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Size:
    > 6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Insignificant, light green catkins appear May-June. Female catkins to 20” long and male catkins to 7" long. Produces 12 to 20 in. necklaces of emerald green, winged nutlets; turn brown in fall
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Compound, odd-pinnate leaves grow to 15” long. Each leaf contains 11 to 25, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, sharply-toothed, glossy dark green leaflets (each 2-5” long). The terminal leaflet is often missing, so that the leaf is often even-pinnate instead of odd-pinnate.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No