Chinese mahogany

Profile

Family

Meliaceae

Habit

Tree

Height

20 m

Spread

8 m

Growth

fast

Lifespan

150 years

First yield

after 8 years

Hardiness

zone 6–12

Shade tolerance

full sun

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

semi-dry – very moist

pH

6 – 8

Synonyms

Gemüsebaum, Maggi-Baum

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Young shoots and leaves are cooked and highly valued in China for their onion-like taste. The leaves are a good source of vitamin A and consist of approximately 6% protein, 1% fat, 6.6% carbohydrates, and 1.5% ash. Additionally, they can serve as a tea alternative. No additional information is provided about the fruit.

Medicinal: The plant's bark possesses astringent, carminative, antipyretic, ophthalmic, and hemostatic qualities. It is utilized in decoction form for ailments such as diarrhea, chronic dysentery, flatulence, bloody stools, seminal effusions, leukorrhea, metrorrhagia, and gonorrhea.

Other uses: Wood is a durable and easy-to-work material that polishes well. It is similar to mahogany and is often used for making furniture and window frames. The delicate fragrance of the wood is often burned as incense in temples.

Growing

Thrives in most fertile, well-drained soils in sunny locations. Prefers rich loamy soil and grows well in calcareous soils. The fully dormant tree is hardy to about -25°C, although young growth may be damaged by late frosts in spring. The tree grows quickly and is said to resist all insects and diseases. It is also long-lived. A highly ornamental tree, its flowers emit an intensely rich fragrance. In China, it is cultivated for its edible leaves.

Propagation

Seeds should be planted right after they mature in a cool environment. For better germination, store seeds should undergo cold stratification for 3 months. Once seedlings are sufficiently grown, transfer them to separate pots and keep them in the greenhouse for the initial winter. In late spring or early summer, move them outdoors, ensuring protection from the cold during their first winter. Root cuttings, measuring 4-5 cm, are obtained in December and planted flat in pots within a greenhouse.

Notable

Special features: Forms suckers; although the tree can grow large, it is best kept as a salad tree at 1-2m in height. Cut back during the summer → new growth; propagation via root cuttings (4-5cm long); flowers have a strong fragrance; leaves like vegetable broth: very spicy; the only cold-tolerant mahogany plant.

Origin & habitat

East Asia - Northern and Western China.

Steep, arid, rocky valley inclines.

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