ABSTRACT
A native of eastern Asia, in the same latitudes as the southeastern United States, the Tallow-tree (or popcorn-tree) has long been a popular landscaping choice in this region, for its brilliant fall color, distinctive seed capsules, and easy care as an ornamental. It is shade-, sun-, drought-, flood-, freeze, and salt-tolerant, as shown in recent experiments. These and other characters, such as its adaptability to a wide range of soils and its ease of dispersal via birds, water, and humans, suggest that this introduced species has a high risk potential as an invasive plant outside of cultivation. Surveys conducted by Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection demonstrate the increased spread of Tallow into disturbed and undisturbed, upland and wetland sites, with one large wetland site south of Gainesville, Florida having more than 10,000 Sapium trees that have become naturalized. Over half (57 %) of Florida’s counties now have naturalized populations of the tree. Current options for control of this hardy plant are also provided.