By NewsLine Staff
mail@floridanewsline.com
The state of Florida calls the Chinese Tallow tree a “noxious weed” because of its rampant spreading and adaptability to any soil condition, and it is forbidden to sell, plant or transfer this tree. Local Eagle Scout Nicholas Storm, who has done other conservation work including building a native plants Prayer Garden at Lord of Life Lutheran Church on Roscoe Boulevard, recently identified this tree on its property with his conversation mentor Ginger Feagle. She is the North Central Regional Coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
There were 203 trees and saplings on its property. Storm organized a weekend BSA Troop 277 work event, fittingly around Earth Day, to mark, cut down or use an ax to put hatch marks into these trees, followed by applying an herbicide that will eventually kill them, using state guidelines.
“I found out that it was Ben Franklin who brought this tree to the United States, and while they look pretty, it’s now recognized that they spread really quickly and will overtake native Florida vegetation,” Storm said.
Other states including Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana have followed Florida’s lead. The tree has a heart-shaped leaf that is rosy colored when new, light gray rough bark, and will have a white flower with no petals that resembles popcorn.
“We are grateful for Nicholas’s genuine interest in helping our church and being such a good steward of our local Ponte Vedra Beach environment,” said Sheila Kolesaire, council president of Lord of Life Lutheran Church. “We had no knowledge what these trees were on our property, but we will now be on the lookout for new seedlings.”
The public can find more information about these trees at:
www.fnai.org/species-communities/invasives/invasive-species?ID=167
Photo courtesy Sheila Kolesaire
