Cleared a line today that had a few limbs from a Chinaberry tree growing up towards it. Just a couple arm loads of limb wood but I've never burned it before and was wondering if anyone here had and how it burned? I googled it and very little information, mostly conflicting, popped up.
Here ya go! Take a minute to check it out. Non-native, some say invasive. Virginia Tech Dendrology Fact Sheet
You see? There's not much info on burning the stuff. I'm waiting to see if more folks from the southern states have experience with this type of wood. This is the first time I've come across this type of tree in northern Arizona. It definitely should not be in this area at this elevation. But as Ralphie stated, non native possibly invasive.
Berry makes me think that most woods that bear fruit are great burning. Yet, looking at those pictures it appears to be a fast growing tree so no doubt pretty soft. But no doubt it will burn.
Gotta agree with Dennis. That looks like it will end up being pretty soft. Still it'll burn gooder than a snowball. Compare it with a pic of this bitternut hickory though
It's very common down here in the south. I don't think I have burned much over the years, not enough to remember anyway. It is a fairly soft wood, pretty grain, dries fast. Robin's like to eat the berries after they ferment. I've seen some drunk birds, they will sit in the road as you drive over them, not moving. Ol' timers would give the berries to a wormy horse or pony. Kills the parasites and cleans them out.
I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to reply to my thread. Due to my work I'm fortunate enough to have between 20 and 30 varieties of wood to burn. When ever I come across a new one I always get overly excited and want to know everything about what people think of it and how it burns. Again, thanks for the replies!
The grackles where I grew up used to get drunk as skunks off fermented mulberries. Their erratic flight and stumbling was comical. I used to hate the messy bastards. Many lost their lives in the jaws of my German shepherd.
I'm late to the party! It burns hot and fast, but still worth hoarding in my book. And the straight grain makes it a pleasure to split. Everything I have read says it's plenty poisonous, so I would not feed it to animals! Here's some more information on it: Melia azedarach - Wikipedia Texas A&M Forest Service - Trees of Texas - List of Trees Plants of Texas Rangelands ยป Chinaberry https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/uploadedFil...(1)/Common_Invasive_Plants_in_South_Texas.pdf Are Chinaberry Trees Poisonous?
