(Syn. Sapium sebiferum)

The Chinese Tallow is native to South-East Asia, mainly China, and was introduced as an ornamental tree in streetscapes and gardens.

Chinese Tallow is a Class 3 Noxious Weed in the North Coast area and must be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed.

This weed is invasive and alters nutrient cycles, quickly forming dense monocultures and displacing native vegetation.

While the Chinese Tallow appears to favour wetter areas such as swamps, it can grow in drier conditions and has been planted as an ornamental tree in streets and gardens.

It is easily recognised by its heart-shaped leaves which turn red in autumn before falling in winter.

Its fruits split open to reveal white-coated seeds which are sometimes likened to popcorn, hence its other common name: Popcorn Tree.

It is a medium-to-large tree which can reach 15 metres to 20 metres high. Branches generally begin relatively low on the trunk and are often long and drooping.

The leaves are simple alternate and heart shaped. They are medium to dark green above, slightly paler underneath, with conspicuous yellowish veins on both surfaces.

The leaves are up to 10 cm long and 7.5 cm wide, with petioles up to 5 cm long and tend to look ‘droopy’. Two swollen glands are located on the petiole immediately below the leaf blade.

Slender, 8 cm to 20 cm spikes of tiny creamy-white to greenish-yellow flowers are produced at the ends of branches between late spring and early summer, usually from around November to February.

Fruit are produced in late summer to autumn, usually between March and May, and are three-lobed green capsules about 1 cm to 2 cm long by about 2 cm wide, maturing to brown-black before opening into three valves.

Valves fall away leaving the white-coated seeds, up to three per fruit, hanging on the tree, usually for several weeks.

The similar looking native, Bleeding Heart (Homalanthus populifolius) is not deciduous and only the older leaves turn red before falling. It will often have reddish upper stems and the fruit is a two-lobed capsule

Infestations of Chinese Tallow can be found throughout the North Coast of NSW, with heavier infestations in the Casino area, and it is also present in other areas of NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

Chinese Tallow produces up to 100,000 seeds per tree per year with long seed dormancy. Shade, sun, drought and flood tolerant it can quickly establish thickets and displace other vegetation and restrict access to waterways and wetlands.

Chinese Tallow is spread by humans through plantings, by birds, and by water carrying the floating seeds.