Re: Chinaberry Trees (Melia azederach)

At 07:10 PM 6/14/2003, Ccopuntia@aol.com wrote:
Melia azederach: We have sold this tree at our nursery in the past, though not at present. It is my understanding that invasiveness is not much of an issue in climates that do not get summer rainfall. I can ask around (our tree people) and see what other opinions there might be, if that would help....
I used to see some VERY old specimens of Chinaberry Trees (Melia azederach) in the CA Central Valley when we lived in Davis. Without exception, these were individuals without seedlings close by or in the general vicinity (though there were other weedy tree seedlings to be found). My assumption was that even though these trees were planted in Victorian times (so that the leaves could be used between sheet for their bug-repellant properties - it is related to the Neem tree), they had apparently not revealed invasive tendencies.

This assumption was confirmed again when I did some casual consulting with a group who was trying to save a couple of VERY old Chinaberry Trees (in the path a street widening) near the old Mission in Fremont, feeling that they were historic landmarks. The city was trying to persuade them to identify seedlings of these trees to at least have a continuous gene pool, but no seedlings had sprouted anywhere in the neighborhood.

I saw these trees used routinely in urban areas for shade in the South of France. What is nice about them is that because of the large, compound leaves, after leaf drop, the relative increase in light is dramatic (less dense twiggy growth), opening up the area for sun in winter.

I've also had mixed reports about birds eating the berries. I've observed birds eating them and read some references referring to this (and the potential spread of seedlings in climates that support them), but other references say that the bird DO NOT eat them because they are poisonous!? The best information I can get about the poison of the berries is that there is a substance in fermented berries that is toxic (not the berries straight). I have never found the berries attractive to eat or the least palatable looking, though they can be decorative. They contain a large, rounded, hard seed which has been used for rosary beads in the past (a possible reason they were planted near the Mission). I would certainly think that the foliage would not be good to eat, but it could be useful for creating a home-brewed insecticide.

The wood is also quite hard, and with a beautiful grain, highly prized by wood turners.

Seán O.

h o r t u l u s a p t u s - 'a garden suited to its purpose'
Seán A. O'Hara fax (707) 667-1173 sean@support.net
1034A Virginia Street, Berkeley, California 94710-1853, U.S.A.

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