#593 Sapium sebiferum Common Names: Chinese tallow, popcorn tree Family: Euphorbiaceae (spurge Family) Get link to this Profile or click for data record #593

The Chinese tallow tree has colorful autumn foliage and interesting fruit (burns like candle) but it is definetely a tree to avoid - don't plant it.

Location
Chinese tallow is native to China and Japan where it has been cultivated for its useful seeds and as an ornamental for more than a thousand years. It is said that Benjamin Franklin introduced Chinese tallow into the United States in 1776. Since then it has escaped from cultivation and is now an extremely invasive weed in much of the lower southeast and is currently expanding its range west and north through Texas and North Carolina. It is also considered a weed in Australia. It was planted as a street tree in California where it apparently has not yet become invasive, perhaps because of insufficient rainfall.

Culture
Chinese tallow tolerates almost any soil and can grow 5 ft (1.5 m) tall in its first year.
Light: Full sun or partial shade.
Moisture: Chinese tallow is only moderately drought tolerant; seedlings especially, need watering during dry periods.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 8 - 11.
Propagation: Chinese tallow seeds are spread by birds, and virtually all of them germinate somewhere. It also produces new shoots from the roots.

Homeowners often "adopt" stray popcorn tree seedlings and permit them to grow into adults that produce copious amounts of fruit that birds will consume, pooping seeds in all directions all of which will unfortunately germinate.

Features
Chinese tallow seed capsules yield a wax (Chinese vegetable tallow) that is used to make soap and candles. An oil is extracted that is used as a lamp fuel and machine lubricant. In parts of the American southeast, decorative wreaths are made by stringing the popcorn-like seeds. Honeybees make a desirable light-colored honey from the flowers.

WARNING
The USDA reports that: "Chinese tallow causes large-scale ecosystem modification throughout the southeastern U.S. by replacing native vegetation. It quickly becomes the dominant plant in disturbed vacant lots, abandoned agricultural land, natural wet prairies, and bottomland forests. Once established, Chinese tallow is virtually impossible to eliminate." The photo below shows a central Florida ditch from which at least half of the native vegetation has been displaced by tallow trees (with red autumn foliage).

This roadside ditch in Central Florida is choked with hundreds of Chinese tallow tree saplings (dark red foliage).

Chinese tallow is a Red Alert pest plant in California (has the potential to spread explosively). The State of Florida lists Chinese tallow as a noxious weed and prohibits its introduction, movement or release.

To kill Chinese tallow, cut the tree down and immediately paint the stump with a triclopyr herbicide such as Brush-B-Gon, Garlon, Pathfinder, or Chopper. Results also can be obtained by spraying the bark in a 6 in (15 cm) - wide band all around the base of the trunk with one of the triclopyr herbicides.

Steve Christman 11/20/99; updated 10/12/03

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