I'm using it up here (WI) as the center plant in large containers. Simply awesome. Now, I'm investigating whether or not there might be other members of the Fabaceae that could also be used in the north as an annual in like manner. These popcorn Cassias are hard to beat! Another one I'm looking at is "Pride of Barbados" or Caesalpinia pulcherrima. As another member of the Fabaceae, it has the pinnately compound foliage but quite a different look in the flower. I thought it'd be nice to compare and contrast in some area having a number of our larger planter types. Cool group of plants for sure, and one in which I suspect more northerly gardeners like myself will be able to avail ourselves of these items in the future. +oM

Further info on this tree seems scarce, so plunged in myself. Found this on Yahoo Answers : Best AnswerVoter's Choice Chicken Fingeranswered4 year ago If enough is ingested it can be very dangerous. It is true that cattle can get sick from eating the leaves. The Chinese Tallow tree (Triadica sebifera), also known as a Popcorn tree, contains resins that are similar to Tung trees. The waxy coating on the green (immature) seeds is the only known non-toxic part of the plant. Nectar from the plant, contrary to the rest of the tree, produces a supposedly excellent honey. With a degree in Chemistry and a cattle rancher, I have done extensive research on this tree. It is listed as one of the top 10 most noxious species of plants in the world. In my sources below are some very informative websites for further information. Source: 1.) Me - Chemistry degree, cattle rancher 2.) http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/node/399 3.) http://www.invasive.org/species/subject.... 4.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_tal... Thats enough for me. Will try to persuade my neighbor to cut his tree down ( only 9 ft from my property line ) and then dig up the roots. Will do the work myself if he gives me the OK, - have all the tools. Also, I need something to keep me busy till the mango's go berserk ! ( smile )

i do a bunch of differant "shoots" i call them macrogreens:) use popcorn seed, the cheapest you can find as long as it has a good germination rate. blanched they are moonshoots and are very very sweet. a good web site is sprout people. go to the greens section. enjoy!

A few more for your consideration. Plumbago auriculata: This is definitely a shrub with weak but multiple branches, not something to be limbed up and underplanted. However, it offers a profusion of beautiful sky blue flowers (there's also a white bloomer). Long side branches, weighted down with flowers, could be allowed to drip over container sides. It would contrast with the popcorn cassia in both form and color. I grew one in a tub in Zone 6 and it was a definite success. It's "common" here. Abutilon (flowering maple): There are quite a few varieties of this plant with varying flower colors. There are also some with variegated foliage. These can be limbed up. They're sun loving and drought tolerant and "easily overwintered indoors". The flowers tend to hang down so someone standing under a planter gets a great view. Brugmansia (angel's trumpet): Green or variegated foliage; assorted trumpet sizes; fragrant and not. Quite a few colors and some that even morph from one color to another as they mature. Another one to look up into. In a paved area, however, the spent flowers could litter the ground and look messy. Duranta erecta "Sapphire Showers": Small deeper blue flowers with a white edge. I've seen this limbed up and it's quite attractive. Nickname is "pigeon berry" because, following the flowers, you get yellowish-orange berries. I could see it underplanted with an orange flower (calibrachoa?) to emphasize the orange berries when they appear. There are other varieties of duranta, including variegated ones, to consider also. I'm going to try to stop thinking about the possibilities now. I already have the plumbago and brugmansia, but as I write of the attributes of the other two, I find I'm trying to rearrange MY garden to accommodate them! June