Chinese Toon
Toona sinensis
Also listed as Cedrela sinensis, Ailanthus flavescens
Also known as Red Toon, Tun Tree, Chinese Mahogany
Climate Match for your location
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A fast-growing deciduous tree prized for its young spring shoots, with a savory flavor often compared to chicken soup. Cook them in stir-fries or with eggs, or pickle them.
Why grow it
Offers edible leaves and shoots from March to May, a spring crop from a tree rather than from an annual or herbaceous green. Its fast growth means it can be harvested sooner than many slower woody perennials.
Watch out for
Left unpruned, it grows tall and puts the new shoots out of easy reach, so keep it cut back to a harvestable height. Take only some of the shoots from each tree so it can keep growing.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Meliaceae
Native Range
China, India, Southeast Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A fast-growing deciduous tree prized for its young spring shoots, with a savory flavor often compared to chicken soup. Cook them in stir-fries or with eggs, or pickle them.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Chinese Toon grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Offers edible leaves and shoots from March to May, a spring crop from a tree rather than from an annual or herbaceous green. Its fast growth means it can be harvested sooner than many slower woody perennials.
Watch out for
Left unpruned, it grows tall and puts the new shoots out of easy reach, so keep it cut back to a harvestable height. Take only some of the shoots from each tree so it can keep growing.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Meliaceae
Native Range
China, India, Southeast Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar sub-canopy trees you might consider:
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