Phellodendron japonicum.fruit.commons.wikimedia.org. (Accessed 8/2014).

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.