How to Grow and Care for Triadica

Chinese tallow is a weedy tree native to China and Japan. It has been introduced to areas such as Puerto Rico, Sudan, and the southeast United States. It is considered highly invasive in India, Taiwan, Australia, and the United States. It displaces native plants by absorbing their nutrients and forming a monoculture. Control of this weed's prolific spread causes significant economic strains in eastern Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Mississippi. Chinese tallow is poisonous to humans and cattle and may cause contact dermatitis. Nevertheless, it has been used for ornamental and cosmetic purposes. The weed can be controlled via mechanical removal and powerful herbicides., Chinese tallow is a fast-growing shade tree native to China. It can tolerate urban areas well and helps to provide shade in mostly concrete areas and home to small animals that may live in cities. The nectar of chinese tallow is used by beekeepers to produce high quality honey. And although the oils derived from the tree can be toxic, they do have commercial purposes.

Triadica cochinchinensis is a species of tree known as the mountain tallow tree. The seeds (as well as from those of Triadica sebifera) are the sources of stillingia oil, a drying oil used in paints and varnishes. The fatty coat of the seeds is known as stillingia tallow, hence its common name. The two species were formerly classified in the genus Stillingia, as Stillingia discolor and Stillingia sebifera (hence the name of the oil and tallow). At some time before 1950, this tree was reclassified into the genus Sapium as Sapium discolor. In 2002 or so it was reclassified again into the genus Triadica with its present name.