Viewing post #674501 by Horntoad

ShadyGreenThumb said:I have a large volunteer Chinese Tallow in the front yard. After the loss of two Bradford Pear Trees to lighting strikes and high wind, we welcomed the quick shade it brought back to our front yard. I had been warned that the tree can become mis-shapened at the 8 year mark. That is not the case. We have had this tree for about 15 years and it is a beautiful natural shape. Others in the neighborhood have been trimmed up nicely as well. The tree goes to seed seasonally and sprout about as much as my oaks and some of the elderberry and cottonwoods in the forest behind the house. But it doesn't take much to keep that under control. I find many weeds much more invasive. Maybe it is not invasive because I let it grow? I love the tree's awesome fall colors.

When plants like this are listed as invasive, it is referring to the ecological impact, not how it behaves in the garden. Birds eat the seed and deposit them in natural area where take over, pushing out native species. Chinese Tallow is a major offender as are Ligustrums