Melia azedarach

Melia azedarach Details

Commonly known as White Cedar, this is a lovely Australian native tree. It features clusters of small and fragrant, pale purple-white flowers in autumn. The flowers result in small and fleshy, yellow fruits when mature. NB: the fruits are poisonous to humans and other mammals but birds are able to eat them. The foliage comprises lush, dark green leaves which provide a lovely backdrop to the flowers. This deciduous tree grows with a rounded crown to about 12 m tall and 6 m wide, performing best when planted in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained site. It is tolerant of frost, cool climates, extended dry periods, and a wide range of soil conditions, barring extreme wet. White Cedar is often planted as a shade tree because of its dense canopy but also suits being grown as a specimen or using in avenue plantings.