Florida Aspen Sapium sebiferum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Croton sebiferum
- Sapium sebiferum
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAP-ee-um seb-EE-fer-um
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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Chinese popcorn tree is a rapidly growing deciduous tree in the Euphorbiaceae (spurge) family native to Asia. Being a member of the spurge famliy, all parts of the plant emit a mikly white sap when damaged. This aggressive tree is weedy in disturbed areas and has escaped and naturalized across the coastal areas southeast making it an invasive plant.
This tree is highly adaptable and will grow in a wide range of conditions. It prefers moist soils and full sun and will grow quickly to 40 feet tall and 30 feet wide outcompeting many native plants. Areas with insufficient rainfall seem to keep it from spreading rapidly.
The flowers are moneceious, long yellow-green catkins and are followed by fruits that split open to reveal white seeds that resemble popcorn, hence the common name. Another common name, Chinese tallow tree, comes from the use of the seed to make an oil or vegetable tallow. The leaves turn and attractive bright red in the fall.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree root suckers easily. This is an invasive plant and alternatives should be considered. Please see suggestions in the left hand column.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sapium
- Species:
- sebiferum
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used in candles, soaps, and cosmetics in China and Japan. The seeds are used to make oil, or vegetable tallow. The wood is used in furniture making.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Japan and central China
- Distribution:
- introduced to NC, SC, GA, FL, LA, MS, AL, AR, TX, and CA
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds are attracted to the oil in the seeds and disperse them.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 25 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Abundant, showy 3 partedcapsule 1/2" to 3/4" long and 3/4" wide matures from green to brown almost black. The capsule splits open to show 3 white waxy coated globose seeds. The seeds ripen in late summer to early fall persist and resemble popped corn, hence the common name.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- 8 inch long drooping catkins of separate male and female greeb-ish yellow flowers on the end of branches from April to June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, diamond to ovate shaped with a tapering base and long pointed tip 1-3 inches long 1/2-3 inches wide. Margins are entire, 2 glands at the top of the petioles. Red fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- White
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Ridges
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Gray to white-gray with vertical cracks and ridges gnarled appearance
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Messy
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin and eye irritation. Causes only low toxicity if unripe fruit is eaten, skin irritation minor or lasting only for a few minutes.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Possibly diterpene esters
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
- Sap/Juice
