re: Help me eradicate popcorn trees

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One of those is the Chinese tallow tree, or popcorn tree, one of Alabama's most invasive species.

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Growing up I always heard them referred to as chicken trees.

I cut a 40' one down that the previous homeowner had planted on purpose for its vibrant Fall leaf colors. I removed it 4 years ago and still get seeds sprouting up here and there. Don't know how long they can lay dormant buts its a while.

Chicken and tallow is all I've heard

Here's my take: If you kill them with chemicals aren't you still going to want them cut down? A previous post mentioned the wood being soft- it is. It does sound as though you need at least a 20" saw and a couple of chains. Cut it down to a stump Grind the stump. You'll have little sprigs pop up from the roots that are close to the ground but you just cut them with the grass-they eventually quit coming up once the roots rot. I don't see it as a long drawn out process. I am aware that this cat can be skinned a variety of ways. I had a tree and stump removal on the side for ten years and this would be what I'd do. Good luck with it.

The problem with them is that they keep coming back unless you kill them. You will continually have new sprouts coming up from the roots. If you chop them up with the mower, you're only spreading the seeds around. If you rip it out of the ground, you are spreading the seeds around. You must burn them if you do that.


The only way that I am aware of killing them is to poison them, and the most effective way to do that is to ring every individual tree, and spray poison in that ring

I'm talking about cutting these sprouts from the roots well prior to their seeding. It's about halting the process of photosynthesis. I have done this on my own property multiple times. This has worked for me but no doubt there are other ways to get it done.

man you shoulda taken a few leaf pics. You'd have to be pretty knowledgeable on trees to just identify then by the bark.


The leaves of a popcorn/tallow tree are easily identifiable.

and that's the problem. I don't think the leaves look EXACTLY like those pictured, but pretty damn close. And they don't all have the seed capsules, but I have seen a few of them

Yea it's definitely not those. Closer to the first pic, i'll get us a pic after work

Remedy and diesel mix with basal treatment will kill any tree. Some faster than others. Chicken trees are easy.