Non-Grass Plant: Chinese Tallow (Sapling)
Triadica sebifera · Perennial Woody Deciduous Plant (Not a grass)
Grass Family
Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family)
Grass Category
Invasive Weed / Noxious Tree
Variety / Cultivar
None (Wild type species)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 6-11; highly heat tolerant; deciduous in winter.
About This Grass
The plant pictured is not a grass, but a sapling of the Chinese Tallow tree. It features distinctive rhombic, heart-shaped leaves that are light lime-green with reddish-pink new growth at the tips. When mature, it produces yellow catkin-like flowers and white waxy seeds.
Blade Characteristics
Not applicable (has broad leaves, not blades). Leaves are alternate, simple, broadly ovate to rhombic, with an acuminate tip and smooth margins. Reddish petioles connect leaves to the stem.
Root System
Strong, deep taproot and lateral roots; extremely difficult to pull once established; does not form sod or turf.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to East Asia (China and Japan); invasive in Southeastern US and Gulf Coast
Growth Habit
Rapidly growing woody deciduous tree; not a grass growth habit
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; highly adaptable to wet, swampy soils or well-drained uplands; high drought and flood tolerance.
Mowing & Maintenance
Mowing will only temporarily stun the sapling, as it will resprout from the root crown; requires chemical or manual extraction; low maintenance for survival (thrives on neglect).
Special Characteristics
Extremely invasive; crowds out native species; seeds are toxic to humans and some livestock; leaves contain tannins that can alter soil chemistry to inhibit grass growth.
Ecological Information
Highly invasive in North America; displaces native prairie grasses and wetland plants; provides food for some birds but destroys local ecosystems by forming monoculture forests.