# Chinaberry (*Melia azedarach*) The Chinaberry tree is a tall tree with beautiful, purple flowers and green leaves. It grows in warm places and can be found in parks and gardens, making it a lovely sight to see! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Chinaberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chinaberry1216.JPG&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chinaberry1216.JPG) ## Appearance The Chinaberry has fragrant, star-shaped, pale purple flowers clustered among its green, feathery leaves. Later, shiny yellow, round berries hang in dense bunches, creating a striking contrast against the foliage, making it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Meliaceae - **Genus:** Melia ## Interesting facts - Extracts from Chinaberry leaves are used in some natural insect sprays, even on crops! - Its beautiful berries are toxic to humans and pets, but many birds can safely eat them! - People use Chinaberry wood, known for its beauty and durability, to make furniture and crafts! - The Chinaberry tree is also called 'Persian Lilac' because its flowers look and smell like lilacs! ## Special abilities - **Tough Survivor:** Chinaberry can grow rapidly and tolerate harsh conditions like drought and poor soil, helping it thrive in many environments. - **Natural Pest Deterrent:** Chinaberry has compounds in its leaves and seeds that can naturally repel or kill certain insects, protecting itself from damage. - **Long-lasting Feast:** Chinaberry berries remain on the tree through winter, providing a food source for birds when other options are scarce. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 700-1500 cm - **Spread:** 600-1000 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring-early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** High - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [European Starling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-starling) (*Sturnus vulgaris*) — consumes berries and disperses seeds - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen from flowers - **Eaten by:** Oriental Leafworm Moth (*Spodoptera litura*) — larvae feed on leaves causing defoliation ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Invasive](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/invasive): Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat the berries from the Chinaberry tree, as they can make you feel sick. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Chinaberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Chinaberry? 700-1500 cm ### How wide does Chinaberry spread? 600-1000 cm ### How big are the flowers on Chinaberry? 1-2 cm ### When does Chinaberry bloom? Spring-early summer ### Is Chinaberry edible? No ### Is Chinaberry toxic? High ### What is Chinaberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Charleston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charleston-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [French Quarter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/french-quarter) — US · Neighborhood - [Locust Grove State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/locust-grove-state-historic-site) — Louisiana, US · Nature Reserve - [Gillsville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gillsville-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Main–Yankee Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/main-yankee-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Palma Sola Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palma-sola-botanical-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Chinaberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/chinaberry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Chinaberry: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chinaberry)