Plant DetailShow Menu

Pterocarya tonkinensis is often confused with:
Pterocarya stenoptera Pterocarya stenoptera
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Tilia americana Tilia americana
Ulmus alata Ulmus alata
Ulmus rubra Tree form (Guilford County, NC)-Mid Summer

Pterocarya tonkinensis

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ter-oh-KAIR-ee-uh ton-kin-EN-sis
Description

Pterocarya tonkinensis, also known as the Tonkin Wingnut. It is native to Vietnam, China, as well as other countries in south-east Asia. It is a large, fast-growing shade tree with pinnate leaves. This tree is of the Juglandaceae or walnut family and thrives well in the southeastern region of North America.

The tree is good for wood production but is less dense than some other alternatives such as walnut.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Shade Garden Sitting Wall
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#shade tree#large tree#woody
 
A Tonkin wingnut tree grows in J.C. Raulston arboretum (2011)
A Tonkin wingnut tree grows in J.C. Raulston arboretum. Daderot Public Domain Mark 1.0 JC Raulston Arboretum
JC Raulston Arboretum
Pterokarya during winter in the J.C. Raulston Arboretum (2019)
Winter form at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum Glenn Wagstaff CC BY 2.0 JC Raulston Arboretum
JC Raulston Arboretum
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#shade tree#large tree#woody
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Pterocarya
    Species:
    tonkinensis
    Family:
    Juglandaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Asia
    Distribution:
    eastern asia
    Fire Risk Rating:
    low flammability
    Play Value:
    Shade
    Dimensions:
    Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Available Space To Plant:
    more than 60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves of this plant extend into compound pinnate leaflets which can each reach 7in long and 3 in wide.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree