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Texas Umbrella Tree, Chinaberry
Melia azedarach

Climate Resiliency 2 out of 5 stars

Upright, dense to open, rounded to irregular habit. Dark green, 1 to 3 foot long leaves divided into many elliptical to ovate, 1 to 2 inch long leaflets with serrated margins. Open clusters of lilac-purple flowers. Fragrant. Clusters of hard, round fruits mature to yellow. Fruit is a food source for birds. Fruit and leaves are poisonous if ingested. Yellow autumn color where nights are cold enough, otherwise minimal to no color change before leaf drop. Significant litter from foliage, flower, fruit, and twig drop. Prune for shape and to develop good structure when young. Tends to sucker from roots. May self-sow in the landscape. Branches tend to break in high winds. Susceptible to heart rot, scale, sooty mold, Texas root rot, and whitefly. Synonym: Melia azedarach umbraculifera.

• Plant type: Tree
• Maintenance level: High, Medium
• Water requirement: Medium
• Sun exposure: Full, Part Sun, Morning Sun, Afternoon Sun, Reflected Heat
• Height range: 30 Feet
• Width range: 30 Feet
• Canopy value: 530 ft²
• Growth rate: Fast, Medium
• Seasonal habit: Deciduous
• Flower color: Purple
• Flower season: Spring, Autumn
• Fruit color: Yellow
• Fruit season: Autumn, Winter
• General foliage color: Green
• Fall foliage color: Yellow
• Hardiness cold tolerance: 5 °F
• Soil preference: Sand, Clay, Loam, Well Drained
• Native location: Western China, Northern India
• PH preference: Acidic, Alkaline/Basic, Neutral, Not Particular
• Sunset zones: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, H1, H2
• USDA hardiness zone: 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b

Plant characteristic definitions