Akplants of Norwich


Persian Lilac

Persian Lilac

Chinaberry Tree (Melia Azedarach)




A fast-growing, many-branched deciduous tree, to 15m tall in its native warm temperate India and China. The pinnate leaves are composed of numerous glossy, ovate leaflets. In spring and early summer it produces a profusion of fragrant, pale lilac, star-shaped flowers in loose, arching clusters; these are followed by ovoid, yellow fruit to 1cm long. It is, however, unlikely to flower or fruit when grown as a conservatory specimen


Flowers on a chinaberry tree are clusters of light-purple flowers growing in an open panicle. Individual flowers consist of five liner petals forming a whitish-purple ray. The centre of the flower has a prominent dark purple tube. When in bloom, the purplish clusters of flowers with the tree’s feathery foliage create a soft, fuzzy appearance.


Chinaberry trees bloom with lilac-coloured flowers from late spring through the summer. Although the dainty purplish flower clusters aren’t particularly showy, they provide some colour in spring and summer landscapes.


The berries from the chinaberry tree are drupes—small fleshy fruits with a single hard seed. The round golden yellow or green chinaberry fruits are round and bead-like and measure up to 0.5 (1.2 cm) in diameter. The marble-like berries grow in clusters and persist on the tree through winter before dropping in spring.


The bead-like seeds were used to produce rosary beads. This is a reason the chinaberry tree also has the name bead tree.


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