Chinese Tallow Tree, Candleberry Tree, Chicken Tree, Popcorn Tree, Florida Aspen

Chinese Tallow Tree, Candleberry Tree, Chicken Tree, Popcorn Tree, Florida Aspen
Triadica sebifera

White wax covered seeds, food for many birds, especiall Yellow Rumped Warblers and Robins.

Hi trois,
I love the picture, looks like a neat tree to own, except I just went to the database and it seems a lot of folks are are not to fond of it. So, I guess I should be glad that it is not hardy to Z5

Thanks for sharing.
S

Around here many folks think it is worth spending thousands of dollars to rid their property of these trees, but most in our neighborhood like them. They are here to stay, compete with other plants a bit, but are easy to control. The other plants are holding their own. I think it's just bad press plus they are not native. They seem to grow where most other trees don't and provide food for many wild creatures, more than any other plant around. The county hates them and just recently sprayed around the edges of our place and our neighbors place, killing most of our privacy screen. As seen in the photo they also killed our Pecan tree as well as several Oak trees and several Red Cedars. These are all on private property, not on easements. I guess lawsuits are necessary to get any respect at all.

I have what I think is one of these trees. The leaves look the same but it has never had the white blooms. It is very close to our garage and will probably have to go but there are other small ones in other areas of the yard. The large one is approx. 6 inches around and probably 8 to 9 feet tall. How can I make a positive id of this tree? I too think they have gotten bad press. We live on 2.5 acres in the "country" and need large shade trees. I think this would be perfect. Anyone with an answer would be appreciated.
Thanks.

Ask the county extension office. They dont have white fowers, just white seeds.

The white 'popcorn' is not the bloom, it is the seed. The popcorn, or meliluca tree, actually produces a small flower bloom, then, off that bloom it produces seedpods. The seedpods open up and shed their husks, which are hard and sharp and will drive you crazy if you like to walk around barefoot! The birds love to eat the seeds in the winter around here. We have one outside our guest bedroom window and we have a cat perch in front of the window. The fur butts go crazy because the birds are close enough for them to reach out and grab...except for that mean old clear thing that stands between the cats and their prey!

Anyway, when we moved in, there were two full grown popcorn trees, plus several young ones that had grown up from the roots. We have spent the Spring trying to eradicate the newcomers, but it is a contant battle as long as the roots remain behind. Eventually, my sis is going to come over with her chain saw and help us cut them down, but it will still be a major undertaking to get rid of the roots and get rid of them for good. (plus I recnetly discovered a darned Ligustrum/Egnlish privet hedge on the other side of the back fence, so now I have two noxious plants to get rid of...along with all the dandelions, etc!)

I beleive this plant and the Rice Paper plant both ought to be on the 'most noxious plant' list. They are highly invasive, and once you get them, it is almost impossible to get rid of them. The rice paper plant has other characteristics that also ought to make it a no-no. The blooms smell like rotten meat and it attracts bees and horseflies....plus the whole plant gets covered in a heavy thick pollen that causes allergic reactions in a lot of people. Not only was I allergic to it in a respiratory sense (every year when it bloomed, I got a really nasty sinus infection and bronchitis), but when I tried to get rid of the plants, everywhere the pollen got on my skin it felt like I had gotten into fiberglass. Eventually I had to get my first hubby to get them all out; wearing long sleeves , rubber gloves, and an mask....but we spent the next several years pulling up the new growth. And my neighbors also spent years getting rid of the ones that popped up in their yards as well. I imagine they cussed us for years because of those darned plants!

We live in the panhandle of Florida and have 2 of the popcorn trees, we manage to keep them undercontrol and are very glad we have them. Because of these trees we have 3 Pilated Woodpeckers that visit several times a day to feed on these trees. We have been told that these birds are on the endangered list . We feel very fortunate to have them at our farm to breed in the pines and feed off these popcorn trees.

I have one of these trees in the front yard of the home i have inherited from my mother. I have lived in this house for over 50 years. The tree has grown from a small sappling when we first moved in when I was 5. In all this time it has never given us the problems that are described. I wish we had gotten some more out of it as it does put out tons of seeds but I guess the bird population has beat us to them. I would have loved to have had several of these trees with their beautiful colorful leaves growing in the yard. I have felt blessed to see the change of the leaves in the different seasons. Reminded me of the beauty in the eye of Our Lord. Now that alot of the famly members who grew up with me including my parents are not around any more looking at the tree and remembering how we played in it and the shade it has provided us I am glad it grew in my yard.

I read Michele56's post about the popcorn trees. She said she lives in the panhandle of FL and has "2 of them" and "keep them under control." I would love to know: HOW do you "keep them under control" AND manage to have ONLY "2 of them"?! I also live in the panhandle and my propery is essentially being TAKEN OVER by these awful trees as they are incredibly prolific and spawn thousands of tiny seedlings every spring/summer. Every time we cut 1 down, 3 more spring up in its place and they are choking out the other vegetation and taking over my pastures, etc.! Will somebody please, please tell me how to end this botanical nightmare??!! If anybody knows how to get rid of them for good, especially the large ones with deep roots, for God's sake, PLEASE email me and let me know a.s.a.p.!!! I am normally an "organic" or "green" gardner, but I am so desperate at this point I am starting to think about poison, gasoline, dynamite, plastique or other extreme methods. THANKS!

It seems like anyone instead of whining about this cool tree would find a way to capitalize on it. This tree has a very historical significance for America as the nuts from this tree were used to make wax for candles. Now there are companies studying these "nuts" for there nutritional value as additives for food and such right now. Apparently because they're so plentiful? However I did a search because I would like to buy some of these nuts and as far as I can tell you can't buy then anywhere on the internet. I unfortunately don't live in a state where these grow, So it seems like if there were any enterprising folks out there with all of these trees you just can't get rid of, DO SOMETHING! I;ll bet you could come up with some cool ideas. And by the way the wax produced by these nuts was green unlike the tallow and beeswax which were white and yellow. Go do something....