Phellodendron japonicum is a tree to 10 m tall, bark dark brown, thin, slightly fissured, older twigs reddish-brown.
Leaves opposite, pinnately compound, rachis hairy, leaflets 9-13, 6-10 cm, tip long pointed, base blunt, very unequal, dull green above, hairy below.
Flowers yellow-green, in small hairy, branched clusters (panicles); blooms May-June (Rehder 1986).
Fruit black, fleshy, a rounded drupe, about 1 cm, persistent through winter.
Wetland status: NL.
Frequency in New York City: Infrequent.
Origin: Japan.
Habitat: Ornamental sometimes escaping. Can become invasive in forest understories, shade tolerant.
Notes: Displaces native shrubs and trees.