White Cedar

    (Melia azedarach)

Also known as: China berry, Cape Lilac

Although it is native to the area, White cedar rarely gains much size in the wild here due to low rainfall and natural enemies I guess. The biggest wild specimens I have found are only about 200mm diameter in the trunk and about 10 metres tall.

Where the tree is nurtured a little like this specimen in Springsure, they can attain similar proportions to those on the coast/rainforest belt.

Certainly a useable timber but not to my tastes. Bland in colour, it is quite soft to work and suffers a lot of tear-out when turning. It sands OK but sucks finish up like a sponge so a sanding sealer is a good idea.

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