Toona sinensis, Chinese toon tree

Toona sinensis 香椿

Variety description: The new spring growth of this tree are used extensively in Chinese and East Asian cuisine. The reddish new growth has an allium-like flavor. The shoots are both pickled and made into a fragrant paste used to flavor fried rice and soups. 

It is most cold hardy member of the Meliaceae, mahogany family. The wood is used for furniture and musical instruments. Native to east and southeast Asia, from Korea to Indonesia. 

We acquired our original toon tree from a gentleman who imported it from China for culinary use. It's new growth is red rather than green. All of the trees we offer are grown from cuttings of our original tree. 

Site requirements: Prefers soil high in organic matter with good drainage. Full sun to part shade. 

Size at maturity: Can reach to 65' tall and 30' wide at maturity. Cutting back or pollarding will greatly reduce size and allow for easy harvest of new shoots.

Pests and diseases: No insects or diseases are of concern in the Northeast. 

Hardiness: USDA zones 6-9. To get this marginally hardy tree established in our cold USDA zone 6 growing area, we first grew it out in a container for a season before planting in the spring. The stems died back for several seasons, but new growth always re-sprouted from the base in the spring. Several seasons on, we now have a 6' x 6' patch rather than a single trunked specimen.