Chinese Vegetable Tree 15-30 cm (Toona sinensis)
Estimated delivery between 17 January and 24 January.
1 tree Chinese Vegetable Tree: 1 year old - current height 15-30 cm
Trivial name: Chinese Vegetable Tree, Chinese Toon, Toona, Cigar Box Tree, Chinese Mahogany, Chinese Toon, Onion Tree
Scientific name: Toona sinensis / Cedrela sinensis
Family: Meliaceae
Plant history & use:
Chinese Vegetable Tree, or Chinese Toon, is a winter-hardy tree with eye-catching foliage that appears in pink-red tones in spring. In autumn, the leaves have a beautiful golden color. The appearance is just the icing on the cake, the tree has a wide range of different uses.
Young shoots and leaves are widely used in Chinese cuisine. The leaves have a crisp texture and the taste is described as umami, nutty and oniony. Another source describes the taste of the cooked leaves as a complex meal in itself - more specifically: like roasted beans with notes of onion and pepper. "Even those who don't like vegetables might like Toona."
The leaves are rich in vitamin A and contain about 6% protein, 1% fat, 6.6% carbohydrates and 1.5% minerals of various kinds.
The leaves are most often cooked as a component in stir-fries or by steaming/boiling the leaves to eat as a side vegetable. They can also be deep-fried in a tempura-like manner.
Young shoots and leaves are also eaten in salads or pickled. In China, leaves and shoots are dried and then ground and used as a spice.
The most common areas of use In the few Swedish homes where the plant is grown, it seems to be used to boil broth from the leaves & shoots, make pesto or throw pickled leaves into a hamburger.
A tea-like drink is made from the leaves and shoots, and in some cases the fruit. The leaves and shoots are heated in a pan for a short time and then allowed to dry slowly.
Roots, bark and fruit have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.
The wood is highly prized and resembles mahogany with its dark red color - it is used to make furniture, window frames, etc.
The wood also has a delicate scent and is burned in temples as incense.
Sometimes called synonymously Cigar Box Tree as the wood has historically been used for making cigar boxes. However, it was predominantly the relative T. odorata that was used for this purpose.
Produces beautiful white/pink flowers in large panicles hanging from the branches in August. The flowers are sweetly scented and adept at attracting pollinators.
In Chinese culture, T. sinensis is often used symbolically to represent the father figure.
From a distance, Chinese Toon can sometimes resemble bamboo, when it is allowed to take root and form a grove. Standing under a large tree, the foliage looks almost palm-like against the sky. An eye-catching plant in many ways.
Culture:
Originates from eastern Asia - from North Korea, through China all the way down to western Indonesia.
Easy to care for and fast growing. Place in a sunny position. Hardy outdoors in zones 1-2. Clear temperatures down to -25ºC have been reported.
Grows best in moist, fertile, well-drained soils. Tolerates most soil pH. Does not thrive in wet soils.
Can be kept low growing and topped for continuous growth of young shoots and leaves.
Has good shade tolerance, but the result is narrow, elongated trees that reach up towards the light.
Placed in sun or shade, the tree will eventually grow to about 15-20 meters tall. Chinese Toon can live over 100 years.
Also top as a larger tree for abundant growth of young leaves & shoots.
Sets root shoots at adulthood.
Features:
Year: Perennial
Growing position: sun
Height: 15-20 meters
Growing zone: 1-2
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Chinese Vegetable Tree 15-30 cm (Toona sinensis)
Expected delivery date: 17 January to 24 January.
Applies to orders within Sweden. For other countries - see our delivery terms .
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1 tree Chinese Vegetable Tree: 1 year old - current height 15-30 cm
Trivial name: Chinese Vegetable Tree, Chinese Toon, Toona, Cigar Box Tree, Chinese Mahogany, Chinese Toon, Onion Tree
Scientific name: Toona sinensis / Cedrela sinensis
Family: Meliaceae
Plant history & use:
Chinese Vegetable Tree, or Chinese Toon, is a winter-hardy tree with eye-catching foliage that appears in pink-red tones in spring. In autumn, the leaves have a beautiful golden color. The appearance is just the icing on the cake, the tree has a wide range of different uses.
Young shoots and leaves are widely used in Chinese cuisine. The leaves have a crisp texture and the taste is described as umami, nutty and oniony. Another source describes the taste of the cooked leaves as a complex meal in itself - more specifically: like roasted beans with notes of onion and pepper. "Even those who don't like vegetables might like Toona."
The leaves are rich in vitamin A and contain about 6% protein, 1% fat, 6.6% carbohydrates and 1.5% minerals of various kinds.
The leaves are most often cooked as a component in stir-fries or by steaming/boiling the leaves to eat as a side vegetable. They can also be deep-fried in a tempura-like manner.
Young shoots and leaves are also eaten in salads or pickled. In China, leaves and shoots are dried and then ground and used as a spice.
The most common areas of use In the few Swedish homes where the plant is grown, it seems to be used to boil broth from the leaves & shoots, make pesto or throw pickled leaves into a hamburger.
A tea-like drink is made from the leaves and shoots, and in some cases the fruit. The leaves and shoots are heated in a pan for a short time and then allowed to dry slowly.
Roots, bark and fruit have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.
The wood is highly prized and resembles mahogany with its dark red color - it is used to make furniture, window frames, etc.
The wood also has a delicate scent and is burned in temples as incense.
Sometimes called synonymously Cigar Box Tree as the wood has historically been used for making cigar boxes. However, it was predominantly the relative T. odorata that was used for this purpose.
Produces beautiful white/pink flowers in large panicles hanging from the branches in August. The flowers are sweetly scented and adept at attracting pollinators.
In Chinese culture, T. sinensis is often used symbolically to represent the father figure.
From a distance, Chinese Toon can sometimes resemble bamboo, when it is allowed to take root and form a grove. Standing under a large tree, the foliage looks almost palm-like against the sky. An eye-catching plant in many ways.
Culture:
Originates from eastern Asia - from North Korea, through China all the way down to western Indonesia.
Easy to care for and fast growing. Place in a sunny position. Hardy outdoors in zones 1-2. Clear temperatures down to -25ºC have been reported.
Grows best in moist, fertile, well-drained soils. Tolerates most soil pH. Does not thrive in wet soils.
Can be kept low growing and topped for continuous growth of young shoots and leaves.
Has good shade tolerance, but the result is narrow, elongated trees that reach up towards the light.
Placed in sun or shade, the tree will eventually grow to about 15-20 meters tall. Chinese Toon can live over 100 years.
Also top as a larger tree for abundant growth of young leaves & shoots.
Sets root shoots at adulthood.
Features:
Year: Perennial
Growing position: sun
Height: 15-20 meters
Growing zone: 1-2
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