Tree of Heaven

Probably the best known exotic invasive tree in the U.S. is the Tree of Heaven, or Ailanthus altissima, which was introduced to America many years ago on both the east and west coasts.

It came to the U.S. East Coast via a French Jesuit missionary who mistook it for the lacquer tree in China and sent seeds to England in the mid 1700s. It then appeared on America’s shores through a Philadelphia gardener in 1784.

By 1840, the Tree of Heaven became a common stock in eastern nurseries, valued for its ability to grow in poor soil with little care.

The second route the Tree of Heaven came to America’s shore was on the West Coast through Chinese miners. During the days of the gold rush, many Chinese miners brought ailanthus seeds with them as they settled in the West Coast, probably because of its medicinal and cultural importance to them.

The Tree of Heaven, which actually produces lovely yellow and orange flower clusters in July and August has actually been a hellish addition to the American landscape, since getting rid of the tree is difficult (cutting it down creates more root suckers and stump sprouts).

It competes fiercely with native trees for habitat, and, to make matters worse, it is useless for structural wood and not even good for firewood or wildlife.

Where Tree of Heaven is Found in the U.S. Today

The Tree-of-Heaven, also known as ailanthus, Chinese sumac, and stinking shumac, is widely distributed across the United States, and today grows in forty-two states, from Maine to Florida and west to California.

This tree commonly grows in disturbed urban areas where it sprouts up just about anywhere – alleys, sidewalks, parking lots and streets.

(A bit of trivia: The book ‚”A Tree Grows in Brooklyn“, by Betty Smith is based on the ailanthus tree.)

In rural areas the Tree of Heaven grows in fields, along roadsides, woodland edges and forest openings.

What The Tree of Heaven Looks Like

The Tree of Heaven’s wood is soft, weak, course-grained and creamy white to light brown. Mature trees can reach heights of 80 feet or more. Seeds are produced on female trees in late summer/early fall in flat, twisted papery ‚”samaras.”

The tree has a strong odor – that smells like cashews or peanuts. This tree can be mistaken for other native shrubs like sumacs, and trees like ash, black walnut or pecan.

It produces a lot of seeds, grows quickly and can overwhelm native species. Once it takes hold in an area, it can form an impenetrable thicket.

The tree also emits toxins that prevent other plant life from growing around it. The root systems cause damage to sewers and foundations. It has also become a pest to farmers since it often pops up in recently planted fields

How to Manage the Tree of Heaven

New suckers ought to be cut or pulled as soon as possible since they are able to build root reserves. Cutting alone does not do much good since it quickly produces root suckers and stump sprouts.

A cover of native trees or grass sod will help shade out and discourage ailanthus seedlings from sprouting.

Alternative Native Trees & Shrubs to Tree of Heaven

Other trees that are similar to Tree of Heaven, but are not invasive including: Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), box elder (Acer nigrum), fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), ash (Fraxinus spp.), and black walnut (Juglans nigra).

Because U.S. native plants can also become invasive outside their natural, historical ranges, be sure to use plant species native to the ecological region you live in.

Check with your local native plant society for recommendations of species and sources of native plants.

Click here to find out more about how to control exotic invasive trees.