Toona sinensis
Origin: China
Improvement status: Unknown
Seeds per packet: ~15
BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED
Life cycle: Perennial
Chinese toon is a well-loved plant in China, but it's only just beginning to become popular in this country. What sets Chinese toon apart is that it's both a perennial vegetable and a tree! Of course, many trees have edible leaves, but few are as flavorful or nutritious as Toona sinensis. It's also the most cold hardy member of the mahogany family (Meliaceae), so its wood, often marketed as "surian" or "Chinese mahogany", is similarly prized for its durability, workability, beauty, and sheen after polishing. Apparently the wood also has a lovely scent and is sometimes burned as incense. The bark has a long history of medicinal use, for a range of digestive, urological, and skin complaints.
In China, Chinese toon is known as "tree vegetable" and it is also sometimes called "Chinese ceder" for its aromatic timber, and "beef and onion plant" on account of its flavor. It bears a striking physical resemblance to the invasive Ailanthus (or Tree of Heaven), but it is a very different plant. The fresh young leaves and shoots — called Hsiang Chun Ya (or Xiang Chun Ya) in China — are up to 9.8% protein, and contain Vitamins C, A, B1, and B2, while also being rich in aromatic substances. Their unique flavor is reminiscent of sauteed onions, and accordingly they are excellent for stir fries (especially with egg), but they can also be good in salads, soups and dumplings. A pickled Chinese toon relish, often spicy, is used as a condiment. This plant is native to China, Korea, and Southeast Asia.
We got these Chinese-grown seeds from the good folks at Sheffield's Seed Company in Locke, NY, who add that "the trunk of the tree is hard and reddish, making it valuable for furniture making and the bodies of electric guitars. Toona sinensis is also a large ornamental tree [up to 65 feet tall and 30 feet wide], with a haggard aspect that is highly valued outside of its native regions... The tree also holds cultural significance in Chinese literature, where it is often used as an extreme metaphor for a mature father." We have seen it growing perfectly well unprotected in Massachusetts (grown by toon devotee Eric Toensmeier) and upstate New York (by Eric's friend and fellow toon devotee Jonathan Bates).
GROWING NOTES: Stored seeds (as these are) want 90 days of cold-moist stratification to improve germination. Very fresh seed can be started right away. Plants want full sun and good soil moisture.
NOTE: Given the time involved in pre-treating and germinating these seeds, we are offering them untested botanical samples, but our at-home early results have already yielded positive results.
