Meliaceae - Botanical Family

The Mountain Mahogany (Entandrophragma caudatum) is a beautiful tree that can grow up to 20 feet tall with a dense crown of glossy, dark green leaves. It blooms with fragrant white to yellowish flowers during the autumn and winter months and produces distinctive woody fruit capsules. This tree is frost-tolerant and can withstand temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit for short periods of time. It is native to Southern Africa.

Caring for the Mountain Mahogany is easy as it thrives in full sun and only requires moderate water. It is suitable for USDA zones 9-11 and is fairly drought tolerant once it is established. If you live in a cooler region, you can still grow this tree by planting it in a well-draining pot with some insulation and keeping it in a sheltered location. To do this, you can place the pot against walls or close to your house for protection from cold temperatures and use a potting mix that is well-draining, light, and airy. Remember to also protect the pot from heavy rainfall and make sure it has proper drainage holes. If you live in a colder climate, it is best to keep the pot inside or in a protected area during the winter months.

The Mountain Mahogany is a deciduous tree that is commonly found in river valleys and open woodlands on rocky slopes and ridges. Its fruit is cigar or club-shaped when green and turns into a woody, pale brown capsule when mature. The fruit has the appearance of a half-peeled banana and contains large, winged seeds that can be carried by the wind.

The tree is erect with slender or spreading branches. It has irregular or systematical crowns and can reach 30-90ft in height. The leaves are pinnate with 5 to 7 leaflets. The flowers are small, white or pale-yellow and mostly bisexual. The fruits are oval, oval-oblong or nearly round and borne in cluster of 2 to 30. The fruit skin is greyish-yellow to pale brownish or pink, leathery, thin or thick and may contain milky latex. The fruits contain 5 or more segment of aromatic, translucent, juicy flesh with sweet to acid taste. Lansium is commonly propagated from seeds. The seedlings are generally fairly uniform. They can also be vegetatively propagated by grafting. This will shorten the juvenile phase. The seeds have a short viability period and must be sown within a few days after removed from the fruit. The growth rate of the seedlings are extremely slow, it takes two to three years before the seedlings are ready for planting. Shade must be provided for the young seedlings and wind-breaker should be available in windy area. Constant water supply is essential during the first two years of planting. Mulching is recommended. Lansium responds positively to irrigation particularly during the immature stage and fruiting period. In Southeast Asia it is sais that the langsats are planted not for oneself, nor for ones children, but for ones grandchildren. They are that slow to produce fruit when grown from seed. By grafting superior selections, we hope in this lifetime to enjoy the tart citrus flavor of the delectable, crisp flesh.

This graceful, fast growing and hardy tree combines a great number of wonderful qualities - beautiful fragrant lilac flowers, fancy foliage, landscape and and medicinal use.

Transform your garden with the Chinaberry Tree - a fast-growing, fragrant beauty that doubles in size in just one season! Its lilac flowers and sweet vanilla-like scent will fill your garden with elegance, while its hardy nature ensures it thrives even in colder climates. Enjoy lush, green foliage and a lovely shade canopy, all with minimal care. Plus, it's low-maintenance, pest-resistant, and has medicinal benefits. See article about Melia azedarach.

Nymania capensis is known in English as "Chinese Lantern" because of the shape of its bright, colorful fruit, and in Afrikaans as "klapper" (meaning "firecracker" because children sometimes pop the capsules for fun).

The genus has variously been assigned to the families Sapindaceae, Aitoniaceae, and Meliaceae. The correct assignment also is under review.

The plant has been reported to have been used in folk medicine.

This plant grows in warm humid areas - most parts of the tropics and subtropics. Yellow and round fruit has thick skin and tasty segments inside. Sometimes called the "Lolly Fruit" because you have to suck it to get the flavor. Plants from seeds bears fruits in three-four years. Fruits mature in mid summer.

This large, evergreen tree can reach heights of up to over 20 feet, and its gracefully spreading branches give it an open, rounded crown. Its bark has a smooth, reddish-brown appearance which becomes increasingly ridged and furrowed with age. The green, glossy leaves are oblong in shape, and in a favorable setting, the tree can produce fragrant and beautiful flowers.

Swietenia mahagoni is native to the Caribbean islands and southern Florida and tends to thrive in areas with plenty of full sun and a consistently moist, well-drained soil. It does not tolerate drought, but it is still necessary to avoid overwatering. Regular waterings are important for young, immature plants, but older, established trees may only require it during extended periods of dryness.

It should be noted that once it is mature, the Swietenia mahagoni can tolerate short periods of time in temperatures as low as the mid-30s Fahrenheit with minimal damage. This makes it a great choice for growers in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11 who would like to plant this unique, beautiful tree in their gardens.

For those who may be considering growing this tree in colder zones, the Swietenia mahagoni can be grown in a container and brought indoors during the winter months. This ensures that it is protected from the cold temperatures while still providing the tree with plenty of sun, water and other essential nutrients.

Overall, Swietenia mahagoni is a remarkable tree with a beautiful appearance and a very versatile, durable wood. There is a reason why it was the origin of the true mahogany woods, and when properly cared for, it can bring a great deal of beauty to a garden.