Toona sinensis

RHS Plant Profile

Chinese cedar

Other common names

bastard cedar, Chinese toon

Synonyms

Ailanthus flavescens
Cedrela sinensis

Trees

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A deciduous, spreading, fast-growing tree to 15m tall with leaves divided into dark green leaflets that may emerge bronze in spring and turn yellow in autumn. Fragrant white flowers are borne in drooping panicles up to 70cm long in summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained or Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Meliaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched
Genus: Toona is a small genus of 4 to 5 species of trees, originating from China, SE Asia and N Australia
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: N & W China

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed in autumn or by root cuttings in late winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free