| tungoil tree | USDA PLANTS Symbol: VEFO U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Hardwood Trees |
| Vernicia fordii (Hemsl.) Airy-Shaw |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Euphorbiales: Euphorbiaceae |
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| Synonym(s): Chinese wood-oil tree | |
| Native Range: Temp. & trop. Asia (GRIN); | |
Tungoil tree is a deciduous tree that is up to 66 ft. (20 m) tall and has milky white sap. The leaves are simple, 6-10 in. (15.2-25.4 cm) long, alternate, and either heart-shaped or with three pointed lobes. The petioles are long and there is a distinctive red gland at the base of each leaf. The showy flowers have 5 white petals with red veins and bloom before the leaves emerge. The toxic fruits are reddish green, round and 2-3 in. (5.1-7.96 cm) in diameter. Tungoil tree grows best in full sun, but it can also grow in the understory. The tree is not particularly cold tolerant. Tungoil tree invades forest edges, rights of ways and urban green spaces. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Tree(s); October James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Tree(s); James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seedling(s); Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; November James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); Leaves and fruit in October James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Fruit(s); October James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); April James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); glands at base of petiole James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); petiole glands Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Stem(s); James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); leaf scar James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Bark; August James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Bark; James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Twig(s)/Shoot(s); February James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Tree(s); Cattle using trees as shade John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org |
 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. |
