Arizona Wild Flowers
Wildflower Pictures And Photos

China Berry Trees, Melia azedarach

China Berry, Melia azedarach Photo Taken June 16, 2006. Florence, Arizona.

China Berry Leaves	China Berry Leaf
China Berry Flowers	Melia azedarach Flower
China Berries; January 25, 2006.	Green China Berries; June 16, 2006.
China Berries	China Berries

China Berry Tree Melia azedarach, Mahogany Family ( Meliaceae ), China Berry Tree. Also called China Tree, Pride of India, Indian Lilac, Persian Lilac, Bead Tree, Texas Umbrella Tree, Canelon, Praraiso, Arbor Sancta . The Chinaberry Tree is a native of China and a member of the mahagony tree family. A deciduous tree to about 50 foot in height, with stout twigs and purplish bark, dotted with buff-colored lenticels. The drupe berries are yellow at maturity, with a hard single seed that was used for making rosary beads, therefor the name Arbor Sancta. Melia azedarach can be semi-invasive under moist conditions, the seed spread by birds. For this reason, in mediterranean climates, it should not be planted close to riparian wildlands. While only occasionally a problem in our dry summer climates, this species is regularly listed as invasive in summer rainfall areas. The berries, under certain circumstances, can be poisonous to people and animals, though not to birds, who love them and often eat them . This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds. Height: Height to about 50 feet. Flowers: Flowers are fragrant, Blue to Violet. They are small with 5 petals surrounding a purple tube. The flowers occur in showy clusters at the ends of branches. Blooming Time: March to May. Leaves: Large up to 24 inches long and double-compound (having leaflets on leaflets). The leaves have long stems (petioles). Its leaflets are dark blue-green and have toothed margins and are pointed. The leaves alternate along the stem. Trunk: Up to 2 feet in diameter. Bark: Gray color with some reddish tint. Rough. Seed Pod: Round berries, changing from green to yellow, hanging from long stalks; the fruit eventually becoming brownish leathery seed capsules. The capsules will hang from the tree throughout the leafless winter months.. Elevation: 0 - 2500 Feet. Habitat: Used to be a very common landscape plant in Phoenix. Now difficult to find, except in older neighborhoods. Miscellaneous: Photos Taken Glendale. Flowers 05-05-2005. Seed Pods 12-04-2005.