The tree is in my neighbors yard but right near the fence line. I do not believe they planted this tree, it just sprung up in the same location where they had cut down a dead Post Oak. The tree is only two years old and is already 20+ feet high.

The tree didn't bother me at first but this past fall it became a real pain in the backside when all those leaves started falling in my pool. I am hoping to identify it so I have a better idea of what I am dealing with.

Edit: made pictures smaller and added additional picture.

[This message has been edited by BigBubba (edited 4/16/2013 9:29p).]

Looks like a chinaberry tree?

It's a trash tree.

Looks like a Chinese Tallow tree to me.

I think you're right. I knew it had china in the name.

Also a trash tree.

To me, it looks like a young cottonwood. Hope not because if so, it can grow to 40-50 ft. in less than 10 years, with an 8 inch or greater diameter. Will also drop leaves year round and small twigs. If female will bloom when older, and this cottony looking stuff will be all over their yard and yours in the early spring. The leaf shape in your picture looks a lot like a chinese tallow, but they usually stay pretty small, 15-20 feet. Chinese tallow leaves are small, 2-3 inches. Cottonwood leaves are much bigger. If you can determine that it is a cottonwood, let the neighbor know - it will be cheaper to remove now than two years from now.

Chinese Tallow or Cottonwood? I did a Google Image search on both and I am still not sure which it is. I see pictures of both that look like this tree.

I am leaning towards Chinese Tallow based on how invasive I read this tree to be. Per Wikipedia, "In the Houston area, Chinese tallow trees account for a full 23 percent of all trees, more than any other tree species and is the only invasive tree species in the 14 most common species in the area".

I am really starting to think I wish this tree were gone but what can I do about it? What right do I have to ask somebody to cut down a tree in their own yard?

I am very worried about this tree because if it is a Chinese Tallow then I imagine this year it will start to drop berries. One article I read said "The milky sap in both the leaves and the berries is poisonous to animals". Is this enough reason to ask my neighbor to cut the tree down?

The situation with the neighbor is a little tricky because the house is for sale and currently has a contract on it. My current neighbors are very nice and if i would have brought this up a month ago I bet they would have said "no problem, we will take it down". But considering there is a contract on the house how does that change things?

I'd take a leaf in to get it identified. Then wait for the new owners. Either tallow or cottonwood, they may want it remove it once they know what it is. I would rather have a tallow in my backyard than a cottonwood. They change color in the fall, do not get very tall, do not need a lot of water, live 30-40 years, and I can cut a tallow down myself. They are an invasive tree though.

A cottonwood is going to cost money to cut down since they are much taller and very brittle. Only gets worse the taller they get. Plus there is a cottonwood beetle that attacks them at maturity, so they do not live long as a shade tree in Texas. Some people plant them for instant shade since they are a fast growing tree. Maybe good for the middle of a pasture, but not near a house or swimming pool.

Hard to tell, but I say cottonwood.

Found cool site

Texas A&M Forest Service

Click on "ID by Leaf".

I cannot tell how the leaves are arranged on the stem by your picture, but if you know, you can probably ID it from the above site.

My guess would be a cottonwood tree. Chinese Tallow would not typically grow that fast. The Tallow I have in my yard don't grow that straight either. The new leaf growth on ours have a reddish orange color on the smallest/ newest leaves. The berries are more of a small hard seed that drops vs. a berry like China Berry. If it's a cottonwood tree, get rid of it as soon as possible. The roots grow like crazy and can cause lots of damage, especially if they find a small leak in the pool piping. If it's the cotton producing type, the mess from that alone will likely encourage the new owners to remove it. I would approach them with the facts of the tree and the damage they can cause and go from there.

It is a cottonwood without a doubt.

I added new picture above with closeup of leaves on a sheet of paper. I used the Texas Forest Service site and came down to two options remaining, Cottonwood and Chinese Tallow. The Chinese Tallow has smooth edge leaves and the leaves on this tree are coarse so I guess that makes is a Cottonwood.

So, is this a really bad tree that needs to go?

Yes, you need to have a discussion with your new neighbor ASAP. It needs to come out for the safety of both houses and the integrity of your pool. Do whatever you can to help your new neighbor agree.

__________________________
Agronomist/Weed Scientist

Grew up around a Chinese tallow (definitely a trash tree after a few years) and the trunk tells me it's cottonwood. The Chinese tallow is much smoother.

Offer to pay the removal cost!

Only the female cottonwood trees produce the cotton. The male trees don't.

Cottonwoods as with willows, tallow trees, and the red maples will give you quick shade but often have issues with wood borers, roots invading foundations and sewer lines, and also produce many broken limbs, branches during times of windstorms.

If I was to plant one, I would also plant a Burr or live oak close by with the plan to remove the cottonwood or tallow tree after the oak tree gets large enough to produce some shade.

Yep, it's definitely a Cottonwood.

Being the non-proud owner of 3 that are well in excess of 75 feet on my rental property that is currently up for sale. The first thing most potential buyers comment on when they see the back yard is the awesome shade but then realize they are Cottonwoods and then the negative comments start to flow freely.

Planted them back about 1985 after we bought the house and needed fast growing shade trees to block the west sun in the evenings. Wonderful idea at the time, but I'll never do that again.

100% not a tallow.

Tallow leaves are never serated, while still spade shape like this, this is a cottonwood.

quote:

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Definitely cottonwood. OnlyforNow is 100% correct. I toot Dendrology in college, and checked my leaf collection.

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Nothing like farting leaves in college


[This message has been edited by FC12 (edited 4/17/2013 2:19p).]