Origin:  Native to eastern and southeastern Asia
Family:  Meliaceae
Light:  Full sun/sun-part shade
Height:  >40'
Spacing:  >40'
Blooms:  White, late Spring
Foliage:  Aromatic, deciduous, young leaves edible
Soil:  Well-drained, sandy, rich
Water:  Regular
Uses:  Culinary, vegetable, landscaping, ornamental, Summer interest, Fall interest, Winter interest
Propagation:  Seeds (Sow ASAP)

Comments:  Toona sinensis or Chinese Cedar or Chinese Mahogany or Chinese Toon or Red Toon is a hardy hardwood tree with a vigorous growth habit.  It is a native of China.    In late Spring or early Summer Toona sinensis produces white blossoms followed later by seeds.  Chinese Cedar has deciduous foliage.  There are 2 types of Chinese Toon, one of which is Purple and the other Green.  The Purple Chinese Toon has more fragrant, lipid-rich purple young leaves and buds, has grayish-brown skin and spreading branches while the Green Chinese Toon is upright, has grayish-green skin and less aromatic, less-lipid young leaves and buds.   Chinese Mahagony can be propagated from seeds which have to be sown as soon as possible as they have short shelf life.  Presoak 24 hours in warm water with 6 hourly water change before sowing in warm, moist soil, ideally at 80 degrees Fahrenheit.  Red Toon thrives best in well-drained, rich, sandy soil in a sunny location.  It can tolerate some humidity.  To the Chinese, Toona sinensis is a medicine tree as well as a vegetable tree.  Used in Chinese traditional medicine, it is good for intestinal and stomach problems.  As a vegetable, the fragrant, nutritious, vitamin-rich edible crispy, young shoots are great for health.  Known as 'Chun Choi' to the Chinese, the young shoots are harvested in the Winter and are delicious in stir-fried with eggs, as a salad or pickled.  It is a popular gourmet dish in the Chinese diet especially during Chinese New Year and they are high in demand in Beijin restaurants around this time of the year.  Chinese Toon vegetable are full of antioxidants.  They are rich in protein, phosphorus and calcium and loaded with Vitamins A, B1, B2 and C; they are also rich in crude fiber, carotene, niacin, iron and fat.  Excess vegetables can also be dehydrated, pickled or canned.  Chinese Cedar is often being used as a street tree.   It provide Summer, Fall and Winter interests.  The dry pods look really ornate hanging on the bare branches in Winter.  Toona sinensis is a valuable tree to have in the partial shady landscape.

USDA Zones:  5-9