Plant Details

Toona sinensis

Chinese cedar

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Common names

20 names · 12 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Chinese cedar
  • Chinese Mahogany[2]
  • Tun tree[2]
Other languages (11)
Dutch
  • Chinese mahonieboom
  • Franse uiensoepboom
  • Maggiboom
French
  • Cèdre de Chine
  • Cédrèle de Chine[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • česnekovník čínský[2]
German
  • Chinesischer Surenbaum[1]
Japanese
  • チャンチン[2]
Korean
  • 참죽나무[2]
Polish
  • cedrela chińska[2]
Russian
  • Китайский Махагон[2]
  • Красная Туна[2]
  • Туна китайская[2]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Цедрела китайская[2]
Slovak
  • cesnakovník čínsky[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Toona sinensis (A.Juss.) M.Roem. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Chinesischer Surenbaum (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 173174; taxon 7CHJF.
[2] Toona sinensis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Tun tree — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.
  • 香椿 — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.
  • česnekovník čínský — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.
  • チャンチン — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.
  • Цедрела китайская — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.
  • Туна китайская — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.
  • Китайский Махагон — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.
  • Красная Туна — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.
  • 참죽나무 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.
  • Chinese Mahogany — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.
  • Cédrèle de Chine — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.
  • 香椿 — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.
  • cedrela chińska — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.
  • cesnakovník čínsky — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 426847; Toona sinensis.

General information

Scientific name: Toona sinensis
Accepted name (Kew): Toona sinensis (A.Juss.) M.Roem. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Meliaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Toona (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Chinese cedar
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Large
Height: 9.14–19.81 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 4.57–9.14 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Erect, Oval

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Leaves, Tea
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Incense, Wood, Fragrant

Description

Young shoots and leaves of this plant are cooked and are very popular in China. They have a flavor similar to onions and are typically eaten cooked. The leaves can also be used as a substitute for tea. No further details are provided about the fruit.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 256862; name ID 2515121; Toona M.Roem.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 256313; name ID 2515062; Toona sinensis (A.Juss.) M.Roem..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Toona sinensis

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2702048, ID 7CHJF: Toona sinensis (A.Juss.) M.Roem. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Toona sinensis — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 65 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .