persian lilac n tree of northern India and China having purple blossoms and small inedible yellow fruits; naturalized in the southern United States as a shade tree n small densely branching Asiatic shrub having lanceolate leaves and panicles of fragrant lilac flowers Synonym(s) chinaberry chinaberry tree China tree Persian lilac pride-of-India azederach azedarach Melia azederach Melia azedarach Syringa persica