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.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
12-24 feet; 24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in. | Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Pyramidal; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
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.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Spike
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
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.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
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.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
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.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
China and Japan
Distribution
Introduced to AL, AR, CA, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX