You just like ignoring the facts snasxs, you know Chinaberry is a invasive in at least some states lol. ;-) And you can't change that fact no matter what you say. I've seen 50 too maybe 100+ Chinaberry trees all in one small area of a field and along the woods here. Tons grow all along fences rows. lol it's obviously invasive in many areas here. U.S. Weed Information: Melia azedarach L. Chinaberry tree This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below. This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. FLEPPC Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. 1999. Invasive plant list (19 October 1999). Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. Florida. SEEPPC Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council. 1996. Invasive exotic pest plants in Tennessee (19 October 1999). Research Committee of the Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council. Tennessee. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MEAZ ================ It is not listed as a Noxious Weed in Florida, but it is A Category II invasive in Florida which means it has the potential to becomes the worst of the worst a category I, yep it's not a Federal invasive (yet a least, could become a Federal invasive in the long term with the help of persons like you). lol ;-) FLoridata (below paragraph) was correct (which they usually are) in saying it was a Catagory I there page was updated in 4/26/04 So they used the 2003 list. It was a Cat I in 2003 but was bumped to a II in 2003 and as remaind there in 2007. http://www.fleppc.org/list/list.htm So again Chinaberry has the potential to becomes the worst of the worst a category I again. Chinaberry is listed as a Category I species by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. This means that Chinaberry is invading and disrupting natural communities in Florida. It also is reported to be invasive and disruptive in 11 other states, including Hawaii and Texas. Chinaberry seeds are readily dispersed by birds and a single tree in your yard can cause a thicket of Chinaberry trees that shade out native species in the woods around your property. If you have a Chinaberry tree on your property consider cutting it down so that birds will not disperse the seeds. Please encourage others to eliminate this invasive exotic from the landscape. All parts of Chinaberry tree are poisonous. Eating as few as 6 berries can result in death. Birds (including mockingbirds, robins, and catbirds) that eat too many seeds have been known to become paralyzed. http://www.floridata.com/ref/M/meli_aze.cfm This was correct it may have shown Noxious type of habits in 2003 but was eradicated from areas in FL bumping it to Cat II in 2005, not totally sure. Invasive and Noxious Weeds of Florida: It shows Chinaberry http://plants.usda.gov/java/invasiveOne?pubID=FLEPPC Invasive and Noxious Weeds of Tennessee: It shows Chinaberry http://plants.usda.gov/java/invasiveOne?pubID=SEEPPC ================= Chinaberry: Rounded Invasive Species Impact Rank: Medium I-Rank Reasons Summary: Melia azedarach used to be widely planted for ornamental or for harvest for its medicinal properties. It has since escaped and naturalized which has caused at least one state (FL) to ban it, although it is still sold elsewhere in the US. It appears most often on disturbed soils, however it can invaded floodplain and marsh communities, and can crowd out native species. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabular_report.wmt&loadTemplate=species_RptComprehensive.wmt&selectedReport=RptComprehensive.wmt&summaryView=tabular_report.wmt&elKey=152741&paging=home&save=true&startIndex=1&nextStartIndex=1&reset=false&offPageSelectedElKey=152741&offPageSelectedElType=species&offPageYesNo=true&post_processes=&radiobutton=radiobutton&selectedIndexes=152741 --------- Invasives are like a slow chain reaction at first that increases speed many times over as they become more and more established and widespread. ====================== Chinaberry being poisonous (to humans and animals), invasive, spindly, I don't think it's a good yard tree at all IMO. So you have to admit Chinnaberry can be weedy, and invasive, and can be dangerous to humans and animals by all the poisonous parts) p. ;-) =======================

Tom is correct (as usual....he is after all always right!! LOL!) The term 'invasive' has a rather specific definition attached to it and it seldom applies to any native plant - in its natural range or not - as these usually (but not always) do not have an ability to outcompete or dominate other native vegetation. Aggressive spreaders or freely self seeding will sometimes define the characteristics or growth of native or naturalized but not technically "invasive" plants. Official 'invasive plants' definition. And a great many native trees and shrubs produce a suckering or ever expanding growth habit - that's just the manner in which they grow. But they are not considered invasive because of this. btw, there are many cultivated forms of elderberry (Sambucus sp.) that do not sucker as aggressively as the native species and make great garden ornamentals. But maybe not as valuable for berry production or in a wildlife garden.

HTown, don't be too comfortable with them. I've been feeding the ones in our yard off and on for awhile, but I never get too close to them. No matter how "familiar" you may be with them, they still have an instinctive distrust for people and they have the potential to be dangerous. Most people don't like them because they've had bad experiences with them, just like many other types of wildlife that invade or wreak some form of destruction on their property, and that's completely understandable. They can also be aggressive towards pets. I made a point of mentioning to my neighbors that there were raccoons active in our area. If you get to feeding them and slack off, they could move on to another property where they're not as welcome and that could have negative consequences for the neighbor, the raccoon or both. I'm not saying don't feed or enjoy them, but make sure you educate yourself on them before you get into it on a regular or semi-regular basis. Make sure there are no means for them to access your house including the roof and chimney, because once they know where the food is coming from they could try to find an easier way to get to it. It's best not to leave food for them near your house for this reason. One of the first things I did when I knew how much they came around was make sure they couldn't get on our roof from any trees, the area around our deck was sealed, and our chimney cap was secure. I added chicken(Actually smaller gapped fencing than chicken wire) wire around the opening to ensure there was no access.(Something I was going to do anyway to deter the birds that ended up in our living room.) This link I found can cover it a little more indepth. These are just tips, but they can be helpful. Feeding Tips I guess my message is it's fine to enjoy them, but make sure you know what you're getting yourself in for, as there are a few things to consider. :-)

i have 5 s. canadensis of bob gordon and wylewood cultivars and 3 s. nigra black lace and black beauty cultivars. i put in the s. canadensis 2 yrs ago and the s. nigra last year. this year my s. canadensis has huge flower cymes but as the flowers fall there are only a few green berries forming. also i haven't seen any bees on them either but my raspberries 40ft. away are full of bumble bees. do bumble bees pollinate elderberry? I've seen them in my blueberries and currants before. maybe i have to wait till next year for a big crop. any ideas? for 2 years growth these elderberry bushes are huge! nearly 7ft. tall and the cymes are 12 to 14in. across! they are in poor rocky clay soil only amended with a handful or so of worm castings and some peat! unreal how vigorous they are!