As trees turn various shades of red, thoughts turn to popcorn trees.
Their autumn coloration is one reason they were introduced to the Florida environment, but it took years for us to realize what a menace popcorn trees become.
The Chinese tallowtree or popcorn tree, was introduced to Charleston, S.C., in the late 1700s for oil production and candle making.
Since then, it has spread to every coastal state, from North Carolina to Texas, and inland to Arkansas. In Florida, it lives as far south as Tampa.
In the process, it displaces other native plant species in those habitats. Therefore, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Noxious Weed List named Chinese tallowtree a harmful weed in 1998. Possession with the intent to sell, transport or plant it is illegal here.
Although Florida is not known for the brilliant fall color of northern and western states, many trees provide North Florida landscapes similar color.
Red maple provides brilliant red, orange and sometimes yellow leaves; the native Florida maple displays a combination of bright yellow and orange color during fall; and many Trident and Japanese maples provide striking fall color.
Blackgum — another native tree, which slowly grows, sometimes, up to 75 feet in height — provides the earliest show of red to deep purple fall foliage.
Others include persimmon, sumac and sweetgum.
In cultivated trees that pose no threat to native ecosystems, crape myrtle offers varying degrees of orange, red and yellow in its leaves before they fall.
There are many cultivars — some grow several feet; others reach nearly 30 feet in height. Chinese pistache can deliver a brilliant orange display.
Many oaks offer fall color, too. Shumardi, southern red and Turkey oaks have dark green, deeply lobed leaves during summer, turning vivid red to orange in fall.
Turkey oak holds onto its leaves all winter as they turn brown and are pushed off by new spring growth.
Our native yellow poplar and hickories provide bright yellow fall foliage. And it’s difficult to find a more crisp yellow than fall Ginkgo leaves.
These trees represent just a few choices for fall color. Including one or several of these trees in your landscape, rather than allowing popcorn trees to grow, will enhance the season while protecting the ecosystem from invasive plant pests.
Sheila Dunning is a commercial horticulture agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DUNNING: Get fall color without harming local habitat