Melia azedarach aka Persian Lilac

Melia azedarach is a tree in the neem family, Meliaceae. Common names include chinaberry, bead tree, and Persian lilac. Its native range spans tropical and subtropical Asia. It also reaches northern and eastern Australia. It sheds its leaves and grows fast when young. Garden trees reach 30–40 feet [9–12 m] tall. Sources give spreads of 15–40 feet [4.6–12 m]. Some trees reach 49 feet [15 m] in warm regions. Forest trees can reach 148 feet [45 m]. UK pot-grown plants stay near 5–8 feet [1.5–2.5 m].

The crown spreads out, with an uneven, rounded shape. Its stout branches can droop and break with ease. Young bark is smooth and reddish brown. Older bark darkens and forms narrow grooves with pale spots. Thick brown twigs bear many small, light marks. Leaves grow in an alternate pattern along the stems. Each leaf divides into smaller parts, often twice pinnate. The pointed leaflets have toothed edges and pale undersides. Leaves turn yellow for a brief fall display.

Small, pale purple flowers open in spring and early summer. Their star-shaped blooms grow in branched clusters called panicles. The scent can recall chocolate and grows stronger in the evening. New leaves may hide much of the flower display. Yellow or yellow-green drupes follow the flowers. Their sticky flesh surrounds hard, round seeds. Fruit may hang through winter and into the next spring. Birds eat the fruit, but fallen fruit and leaves make litter.

Full sun suits this tree, though it tolerates some shade. It grows in sand, loam, or clay with good drainage. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soils. Moist soil suits growth, but the tree withstands drought well. Wet soil does not suit it. US sources list USDA zones 7–10. Cold may kill stems back at the northern limit. RHS gives H1C for UK conditions and suggests greenhouse culture. Plants under glass seldom bloom or fruit. They need less water in winter than during active growth.

People grow chinaberry for shade and use its wood for fuel and cabinets. Other uses include seed beads, dyes, oils, and insect repellents. Reports also describe folk medicine and food uses. These food claims conflict with clear warnings about poison. All parts contain toxins; ripe fruit poses the greatest risk. Eating it can harm people, dogs, cats, and horses. Severe poisoning can cause seizures and death. Serious pest trouble is uncommon, but scale and whitefly occur. Mites, sooty mold, and leaf spot can also affect it. Pruning helps build stronger branches. Its spread into disturbed land makes it invasive across the southeastern United States.