Popcorn Tree Triadica sebifera
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Sapium sebiferum
- Phonetic Spelling
- try-uh-DEE-kuh seb-EE-fer-uh
- This plant has medium 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 milky 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. It was initially introduced to SC in the 1700s and can now be found from eastern North Carolina southward to Florida. From Florida, it spread in a westerly direction, through Louisiana, Arkansas into Texas.
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 monoecious, 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 an attractive bright red in the fall.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree root suckers easily. It is listed as invasive in FL, AR, CA, OK, TX, NC and GA and alternatives should be considered. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column. Listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council.
- 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:
- Triadica
- Species:
- sebifera
- Family:
- Euphorbiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China and Japan
- Distribution:
- Introduced to AL, AR, CA, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees and other insects as well as birds.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Shade
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Abundant, showy 3 parted-capsule 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:
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The yellowish flowers have no petals and appear on 8-inch dangling catkin-like spikes. This monoecious plant produces male flowers in clusters at the upper nodes of the inflorescence. Female flowers are individual and form on short branches at the base of each spike.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The upper leaf is medium to dark green, while the underside is a lighter green. Conspicuous yellow veins are visible on both the upper and underside of the leaves. They have a tapering base and long pointed tip, 1-3 inches long 1/2-3 inches wide, and 2 glands at the top of the petioles. Red to yellow fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Bark Description:
- The trunk of this tree can be gnarled and fissured. The bark will thicken as the tree grows. It may peel off in vertical, narrow strips.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Insect Pests
- Urban Conditions
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Messy
- Weedy
