White Cedar

White Cedar (Melia azedarach) is one of the few genuinely fast native shade trees that still lets the winter sun through. In a garden it settles at around 10m tall and 8m wide, spreading a broad tiered canopy over a lawn or a driveway. Scented lilac flowers open in spring and the canopy turns gold in autumn before the leaves drop. One caution before you buy: the yellow berries that follow are highly toxic to people and pets.

Why you'll love it

• Shade, and quickly. It is a fast grower, so a bare backyard has usable cover in years rather than decades.
• Deciduous, which is the point. Summer shade over the roof, then bare branches that let low winter sun reach the house. An evergreen cannot do both.
• Two seasons of interest. Lightly scented lilac flowers in spring, then a clean gold canopy in autumn.
• Genuinely tough. Frost hardy, drought tolerant once established, heat tolerant, at home in poor soil and untroubled by salt air.
• Birds use it. They work both the flowers and the fruit, so it suits a garden planted for wildlife.

Where it works best

Shade over a lawn or entertaining area. Give it room. At 8m across when mature it wants to sit at least 6m clear of the house, the fence and any paving you would rather not sweep.

Driveways and avenues. Planted 8m to 10m apart the canopies meet overhead without crowding, which is what a mature width of 8m asks for.

Feature planting on a large block. The tiered, open branching means a single tree reads properly from every angle, bare winter frame included.

Growing White Cedar in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. This is a tree for tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and arid to semi-arid gardens, and it is frost hardy once the trunk hardens off. Cool temperate districts sit outside its range.

Soil. Not fussy. It grows in shallow, sandy and poor ground that would stall a more precious tree, provided the site is not permanently wet. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then it looks after itself in all but the harshest dry spells. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is plenty.

Pruning. Prune while young to a single strong leader, then lift the lower branches as it gains height. Be honest about the litter: leaves, flowers and berries all come down in turn.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow it in 200mm packs of six, in 300mm and 400mm pots, and in advanced 45L, 100L and 200L sizes. The smaller pots are young whips, affordable enough to plant a full driveway run. From 45L upward you are buying a formed trunk and real height on day one.

Remember that it is deciduous, so stock sent out through winter can arrive bare, which is normal rather than a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to choose a canopy tree for real shade
• Compare fast growing shade trees
• Browse the Australian native tree range
• See other plants with autumn colour

Common questions

Are the berries poisonous?

Yes. The yellow berries are highly toxic to people and to pets, and a small quantity is enough to cause serious illness. If you have young children or a dog that chews windfall, choose a different shade tree.

How far from the house should I plant it?

Allow at least 6m, and more if the block permits. The mature canopy is about 8m across, so anything closer means constant pruning and a steady supply of leaf litter in the gutters.

Will it grow in a cold southern garden?

It takes frost once established, but it belongs in tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and dry inland gardens. In cool temperate districts growth is slow and unreliable, so look at a deciduous ornamental better suited to the cold.