Guides · Tree database · Pennsylvania trees
Amur corktree identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
Amur corktree, Phellodendron amurense, is an introduced tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its leaves, bark, fruit and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Opposite, compound leaves. Compound leaves 11 to 14 inches long with 7 to 11 leaflets, glossy dark green on top and much paler underneath. Bark: Dark gray and thick with corky ridges. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify Amur corktree
| Leaf type | Opposite, compound leaves |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Compound leaves 11 to 14 inches long with 7 to 11 leaflets, glossy dark green on top and much paler underneath. |
| Bark | Dark gray and thick with corky ridges. |
| Fruit | Black berries about 3/8 inch in clusters, ripe in early fall and hanging on through winter. |
| Twigs | Stout, glossy brown twigs with large U-shaped leaf scars around the bud. |
| Size and shape | Up to about 50 feet with a spreading, often flat-topped crown. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is Amur corktree native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists Amur corktree as introduced: it is not native to Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania DCNR lists Amur corktree as an invasive plant, rank 2 (significant threat). DCNR defines invasive plants as species that are not native, grow aggressively and push out native plants.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like Amur corktree
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica | Opposite, compound leaves. Compound leaves 6 to 9 inches long with 7 to 9 toothed, narrow leaflets, smooth or silky underneath. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, fruit and twigs on each tree’s page.
Questions
How do you identify Amur corktree?
Look for opposite, compound leaves. Compound leaves 11 to 14 inches long with 7 to 11 leaflets, glossy dark green on top and much paler underneath. Bark: Dark gray and thick with corky ridges.
Is Amur corktree native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists Amur corktree as introduced: it is not native to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania DCNR lists Amur corktree as an invasive plant, rank 2 (significant threat).
How big does Amur corktree get?
Up to about 50 feet with a spreading, often flat-topped crown.
How can you tell Amur corktree in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Stout, glossy brown twigs with large U-shaped leaf scars around the bud. Bark: Dark gray and thick with corky ridges.
What tree looks like Amur corktree?
Green ash. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Phellodendron amurense fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status); Pennsylvania DCNR Invasive Plant List. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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