Fire effects on post-invasion spread of Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) in wet pine flatwood ecosystems in the southeastern United States

•Canopy closure, grass cover, and elevation affected spatial variations of soil tallow seed banks.•The number of new tallow germinants was negatively correlated with the cover of litter and shrubs.•Tallow seedling recruitment rates increased linearly with fire intensity.•No difference in survived seedlings existed in burned and unburned areas the second year post-fire.