Popcorn Trees
- The Chinese tallow tree is a medium-sized tree with diamond-shaped leaves that are thin and flutter in the wind. The leaves are 2 to 3 inches long and are deciduous, providing a brilliant fall color display. The tree has been widely used in warmer climates as an ornamental and has attractive spring flowers in the form of catkins dangling off the branch tips. The characteristic fruiting capsule is three-lobed and brown and has waxy white seeds. The tree has a tidy growth habit with a spread half the length of the height.
- Chinese tallow tree is native to both China and Japan and can be found in other parts of the temperate Asian continent. The tree was brought to the United States in 1776 and has been widely used as a street tree. It thrives in either full sun or partial shade and has moderate drought tolerance, which makes it useful in public spaces. It is a widely adaptable tree that can also grow in moist areas.
- Popcorn trees are so vigorous they need little extra attention once they are established. The trees require average water, especially when young and while establishing. The plant is fast growing and can get up to 5 feet tall in the first year. Spring applications of nitrogen are beneficial but not necessary. To prevent the tree from spreading, it is wise to prune off the fruit in summer to late fall. Prune off the suckers that arise from the base of the plant to keep the trunk clean and clear. Popcorn tree doesn't have any serious pests or disease problems.
- The popcorn tree is not recommended for cultivation in many of the warm-season areas of the United States. It has escaped domesticity and is now naturalized in the wilds of Florida and California where it has taken over the ecosystem. Their fruits are eaten by birds who spread the seed or it falls below the parent tree when the fruit is ripe and bursts open. Popcorn tree adults are often ringed with their progeny. Southern state governments do not recommend the purchase of the tree and have management programs in place.