Aphananthe philippinensis (Axe handle Wood)

Aphananthe spp.

Muku tree

Cannabaceae

Eastern Asia, eastern Australia, Madagascar, and Mexico

Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

Overview

Aphananthe spp. is a small genus of trees and shrubs in the hemp family Cannabaceae, with about five species spread disjunctly across eastern Asia, eastern Australia, Madagascar, and Mexico. Plants range from large deciduous trees reaching 50-65 feet (15-20 m) to smaller evergreen species of warmer forests. The alternate leaves are 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, oval with a tapering tip and sharply toothed margins, and in several species the upper surface is rough with silica-stiffened hairs, giving a sandpapery texture once used to smooth wood and bone. Small greenish flowers open with the new leaves in spring, with separate male and female flowers borne on the same tree, the males in clusters and the females single in the leaf axils. The genus is wind-pollinated and produces a small fleshy drupe 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) long that ripens black or dark purple and is eaten by birds. A. aspera of Japan, Korea, and China is the species seen most in cultivation, grown as a shade and street tree and used in timber for its hard, tough wood. Plants grow in moist valley forest and along streams, generally on fertile, well-drained soils. Old trees develop a broad, rounded crown and a straight, grey-barked trunk.

Native Range

Native to scattered regions of eastern Asia, eastern Australia, Madagascar, and Mexico, a distribution reflecting an ancient, once-continuous range. Plants grow in moist broadleaf forest, valley bottoms, and along streambanks.

Suggested Uses

Aphananthe spp. is planted as a shade tree, street tree, and parkland specimen, with A. aspera also trained for bonsai. The fruit feeds birds, and the dense canopy shelters nesting birds. In its native regions the tough wood is worked into tool handles, flooring, and turnery.

How to Identify

Recognize Aphananthe spp. by its alternate, oval leaves with evenly toothed edges and a long-tapering tip, often rough to the touch on the upper side from stiff silica hairs. The straight, parallel side veins run out to the marginal teeth, and crushed bark and twigs lack any milky sap. Small green flowers in spring and single, rounded, dark drupes in the leaf axils separate it from the related hackberries (Celtis spp.), whose fruits sit on longer stalks.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height10' - 65'

Width/Spread20' - 40'

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Spring

Flowering coincides with leaf-out in spring, typically March to May in the northern part of the range. The small green flowers are wind-pollinated and pass largely unnoticed. Fruit develops over summer and ripens to purple-black by early autumn, when it is taken by birds.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Time to Maturity

10-20 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun to part shade in deep, moist, well-drained soil and tolerate a pH range from about 5.5 to 7.5. The deciduous species such as A. aspera are the more cold-tolerant, hardy in USDA zones 6 to 9, while the evergreen tropical species need frost-free conditions. Young trees grow steadily and develop a broad, rounded crown with age, casting moderate shade. Propagation is from fresh seed, which benefits from cool stratification in the temperate species, or from semi-hardwood cuttings. Established trees withstand wind and brief drought and have few serious pests. Ample room lets the spreading canopy develop without crowding nearby structures.

Pruning

Pruning is limited to removing dead, crossing, or damaged wood in late winter while the deciduous species are dormant. Young trees can be trained to a single leader for street or shade use. The wood compartmentalizes wounds well, so major limb removal is done while branches are still small.