Though called a Cedar, this is a tree that is deciduous or at best semi-evergreen, has leaves rather than needles, and is grown for its white flowers. It may grow to 90' in the tropics, and the timber is so light, strong, and easily worked, that loggers devastated it in its natural rainforest habitat. It is said to have done more to open up the Australian frontier for settlement than any other material, including gold. Now the wood is worth a fortune. In its native habitat, it needs a very dark location; too much light will lead to attack by a moth that seriously inhibits its growth. Whether that is the case in the US, I don't know, but a shady spot would seem best.

The United States Department of Agriculture has a website which contains a database of plants native to or naturalized in the United States. Each entry includes a map of the US, showing the states where the plant occurs. In the case of Toona ciliata, known as Australian Red Cedar and Indian Mahogany, and Burma Cedar, and known to inhabit Indonesia, the USDA map shows the tree naturalized in one state. Given the tropical nature of the other places where it occurs, and the fact that it is an important timber tree in Hawaii and Puerto Rico, one might imagine this state to be no further north than Florida. Nope. It's Maryland. Why? Beats me. But I guess this means it should be hardy across the southern US and the Pacific coast, zone 8. One thought that only Toona sinensis was anything like that hardy, but would the government lie? If you think not, order for zone 8 with complete confidence.

Toona ciliata 4" pot $4.00 Limit 1