Chinaberry

Planted at Mount Vernon

Botanical Garden

Hardiness Zones

Average annual extreme minimum temperature 1976-2005

Chinaberry is a fast-growing deciduous tree often made of several smaller trunks, as it is able to readily sprout from the roots. The widely spreading crown, pale purple tube-like fragrant blooms, and attractive yellow drupes that persist all winter made it a popular ornamental shade tree in southern yards during the 1900s, but now it is noted for its invasive qualities, naturalizing along roadsides and fence rows. Many animal species - including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, poultry and humans - have been poisoned by chinaberry, usually by ingesting the fallen fruit.

Latin Name

Melia azedarach

Family

Meliaceae

Also Known As

Pride of China , Bead Tree , Ceylon Mahogany

Type of Plant

Trees

Bloom Season

April - May

Seasons

Spring

Summer

Specifications

Max Height: 50'

Max Spread: 50'

Uses

Ornamental

Sunlight Exposure

Full Sun

Attracted Wildlife

Birds

Toxicity

Do not ingest

Harmful to pets

Colors

Native Range

Northern India, central and western China

History

Washington planted Pride of China in his botanical garden, writing on July 23, 1785, "Perceived a few Plants of the Pride of China (the Seed of which were Sowed on the 13th. of June) to be coming up."

Other Details

Grown by Washington

Bartlett Tree Expert Company has been working with Mount Vernon Estate since 2011 providing expert arboricultural care and GPS mapping for the estate’s historic trees, as well as support from their research facility. Mount Vernon is proud to partner with Bartlett Tree Experts and appreciates their sponsorship of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Plant Finder App.

Bring Washington's Garden Home

Purchase our historic seeds, collected from plants grown at Mount Vernon and plant them in your own garden.

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