Melia azedarach (Chinaberry Tree)

Description

A fast-growing and wonderfully ornamental tree with a clean 90cm clear stem and a broad, arching canopy of elegant, feathery foliage. The Chinaberry Tree is a real find for gardeners looking for something exotic and unusual — offering fragrant lilac-purple flowers in late spring, attractive bipinnate foliage through summer, and clusters of golden-yellow berries that persist well into winter.

Melia azedarach has a generous, relaxed habit that softens any space it grows in. It’s the kind of tree that gives you something to look at in every season — and at 90cm of clear stem, it already has a strong, established presence from the moment it goes in the ground.

Why we love it

• Fragrant lilac-purple flowers in late spring — genuinely beautiful
• Elegant, feathery bipinnate foliage with a light, tropical feel
• Ornamental golden berries through autumn and winter
•  Clean 90cm clear stem with a well-developed canopy
• Fast-growing and rewarding — something different for the adventurous gardener

Size

• Pot size: 10L
• Clear stem: 90cm

Best for

• Sheltered garden borders and sunny courtyards
• Exotic and Mediterranean-style planting schemes
• Gardens wanting year-round ornamental interest
• Large statement containers
• Anyone after something genuinely unusual

Growing conditions

Melia azedarach thrives in a warm, sunny position with well-drained soil. It’s more cold-tolerant than many exotic-looking trees, but benefits from a sheltered spot — particularly when young. Once established, it grows quickly and rewards with a multi-season display of flowers, foliage, and fruit.

What makes this batch special

These trees have been selected for their clean stem height and well-formed canopy structure — giving them a balanced, ornamental look that’s ready to make an impact. As with all specimen trees, there can be some natural variation in canopy shape, which adds to the character of each individual plant.

Caragh’s Garden Notebook

The Chinaberry Tree doesn’t get nearly enough attention — and that’s exactly why we love it. It’s fast, it’s generous with its flowers, and those golden berries through winter are a real bonus when most other trees have nothing to offer. Plant it somewhere you can appreciate the fragrance when it’s in bloom, and give it the sunniest spot available. A tree that genuinely surprises people every time.