Trees of Alabama and the Southeast Home Page

 Leaves are alternate, deciduous and bi- or tripinnately compound with toothed or lobed leaflets.  Twigs are stout, maroon and shiny with a 3-lobed leaf scar and tan fuzzy buds.  Bark is purple-maroon and shiny on young stems and brown and ridged on larger trees.   Flowers are purple and showy (small purple firecrackers).  Fruit is a yellow-brown, poisonous drupe that persists over winter.  Chinaberry has naturalized in open and disturbed areas throughout the southeast and is intolerant of shade.  This tree was a popular ornamental in the past and a favorite for tree houses.  Although the fruit is poisonous to livestock, it is eaten by some birds.  l

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All text and photographs are intended for educational purposes only and are not for commercial use in any form.  All photographs are copyrighted by the named photographer(s), text copyright by Lisa Samuelson. © 2005, all rights reserved. Photographs by Mike Hogan or Todd Langston.