Scientific Name: Melia azedarach

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  • Pronunciation:
    MEEL-ee-ah az-er-dar-ACK
  • Common Name:
    White Cedar
  • Type:
    Tree
  • Family:
    MELIACEAE
  • Flowers:
    White or mauve, perfumed, in large panicles, spring
  • Fruit:
    Yellow, to 15mm
  • Vegetation Type:
    Rainforest margins
  • Species List:
    Weyba Esp, Fraser Island, Mill Point, Johns, Cooroibah Conservation Park, Cooroibah Bushland Reserve, Cranks Creek, Boreen Point, Leslie Drive Roundabout TAFE Noosa Banks, Kin Kin Arboretum, Heritage Park
Cultural Notes

POISONOUS seeds used for beads or rosaries. Leaves and bark were bruised and used as a quick-acting fish POISON. Timber: Unsuitable for general construction. Used for interior joinery and panelling.

Identification Notes

Deciduous. Leaf: compound, up to 70 leaflets per leaf.

Associated Fauna

Fruit eaten by possums and cockatoos, also fig birds and Rose-crowned fruit doves

Landscaping Notes

Excellent street or feature tree which provides year-round interest from flowers, fruit and autumn foliage. Average to moist soils. Shady rounded canopy. Adaptable. Flowers have scent of chocolate, fruit is decorative. Trees can be defoliated by procession caterpillars but this occurs just before leaf drop in winter.