Bloomipedia
Chinaberry (Melia azedarach)
Photo: Frances W via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Chinaberry

Melia azedarach

Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) is a shrub or small tree in the Meliaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Chinaberry is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

19states where USDA records it
3Bloomipedia state lists include it
22,039U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alabama, South Carolina, Texas

🚫
Regulated invasive plant in Texas. It's on that state' official invasive plant list (Texas: Invasive plant (sale and import prohibited)). Please don't plant or share it there. 4 TAC 19.300

Quick look

Melia azedarach, commonly known as the chinaberry tree, pride of India, bead-tree, Cape lilac, syringa berrytree, Persian lilac, Indian lilac, or white cedar, is a species of deciduous tree in the mahogany family, Meliaceae, that is native to Indomalaya and Australasia.

  • It belongs to the Meliaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 19 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as not native to Alabama and South Carolina. NatureServe
  • In Texas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as indeterminate. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 50 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 15,971 research-grade sightings of it in Texas, ranking #26 among the 169 flowers on our Texas list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 632 research-grade sightings of it in Alabama, ranking #101 among the 167 flowers on our Alabama list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 574 research-grade sightings of it in South Carolina, ranking #59 among the 171 flowers on our South Carolina list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (378 records)
Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
Texas–March–April15,971
AlabamaIntroducedfew records (21)632
South CarolinaIntroducedfew records (16)574

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
Texas
Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. NatureServe has no Texas rank for it. 31 TAC 69.8
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Alabama.
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in South Carolina.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: medium). Poisonous parts: bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, sap/juice, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Fruit and tea from leaves-- are poisonous to humans, some livestock, and mammals, including cats and dogs. Poisonous through ingestion. Symptoms post-consumption include stomach irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody…” NC State Extension

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Bead Tree” (Melia azedarach) lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Diarrhea, vomiting, salivation, depression, weakness, and seizures. Ripe fruit (berries) most toxic but also bark, leaves, and… ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records chinaberry in 19 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia.

Texas counties with USDA records: Anderson, Angelina, Bexar, Brazos, Brown, Cameron, Colorado, Comal, Dallas, Denton, Edwards, Erath, Fayette, Galveston, Harris, Hays, Hidalgo, Jefferson, Karnes, Llano, Madison, Marion, Maverick, McLennan, Nueces, Robertson, Rusk, San Patricio, Travis, Uvalde, Waller, Webb, Wilson, Yoakum, Zapata.

Alabama counties with USDA records: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Chilton, Clay, Coffee, Colbert, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Wilcox.

South Carolina counties with USDA records: Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Cherokee, Chester, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Edgefield, Fairfield, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lee, Lexington, Marion, McCormick, Newberry, Richland, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Chinaberry a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.0 to 8.0 and winter lows down to 17 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
4.0 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
17 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
365
Annual precipitation range
20 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
60 inches
Salinity tolerance
Medium
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Year Round
Fruit or seed
Brown · Year Round to Year Round
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for MEAZ. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; Navassa Island: Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced; Puerto Rico: Introduced; U.S. Virgin Islands: Introduced.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 356 counties across 18 states; the most are in Louisiana (59), Alabama (47), Arkansas (39).

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Sources