tree of heaven: Ailanthus altissima (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae)

tree of heaven
Sapindales > Simaroubaceae > Ailanthus altissima (P. Mill.) Swingle
Synonym(s): ailanthus, copal tree, tree-of-heaven
Tree of heaven is a rapidly growing, typically small tree up to 80 ft. (24.4 m) in height and 6 ft. (1.8 m) in diameter. It has pinnately compound leaves that are 1-4 ft. (0.3-1.2 m) in length with 10-41 leaflets. Flowering occurs in early summer, when large clusters of yellow flowers develop above the leaves. Fruit produced on female plants are tan to reddish, single winged and wind and water-dispersed. Tree of heaven resembles the sumacs and hickories, but is easily distinguished by the glandular, notched base on each leaflet and large leaf scars on the twigs. It is extremely tolerant of poor soil conditions and can even grow in cement cracks. Trees are not shade tolerant, but thrive in disturbed forests or edges. Dense clonal thickets displace native species and can rapidly take over fields, meadows and harvested forests. Tree of heaven, native to Asia, was first introduced into North America in 1748 by a Pennsylvania gardener. It was widely planted in cities because of its ability to grow in poor conditions.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy

Fire Effects Information System - USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Invasive Plant Atlas of New England - University of Connecticut

Invasive Plant Manual - Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council

Invasive Plant Responses to Silvicultural Practices in the South - University of Georgia

Invasive Plants Field and Reference Guide - USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area

Invasive Plants of Asian Origin Established in the United States and Their Natural Enemies - Volume 1 - USDA Forest Service

Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Prescriptions for Specific Nonnative Invasive Plants - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Weeds Gone Wild Fact Sheets - Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group

Weeds of the Week - USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, Forest Health Protection

Selected Images from Invasive.org

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Feature(s); Glandular notch at the base of the leaflets. Martin County, KY Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); Distinctive glands on ears at leaflet bases. James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); leaf scar and bud Jan Samanek, State Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Bark; Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Flower(s); Staminate inflorescence Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org 768x512	Flower(s); Jan Samanek, State Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Foliage; Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); leaf gland in September James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Fruit(s); Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Foliage; Jan Samanek, State Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Foliage; Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Foliage; Paul Wray, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Fruit(s); in September James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Infestation; Infestation along roadside Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; David J. Moorhead, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Infestation; Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Sapling(s); Growing in recently cut-over area. Polk County, IA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Fruit(s); Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Seedling(s); Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org 768x512	Tree(s); Trees growing along Interstate Highway 75 in Forsyth, Georgia Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Tree(s); August James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Tree(s); Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Tree(s); Ian Trueman, University of Wolverhampton, Bugwood.org 768x512	Control; Nancy Fraley, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Fruit(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Diagram or Graphic; Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 2: 446. USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024

Invasive Reference(s):

Check Invasive.org for most current lists.

Alabama - IPC List
California - Invasive Plant Inventory
Connecticut - Noxious Weed Law
Georgia - EPPC list
Kentucky - EPPC List
Massachusetts - Noxious Weed Law
New Hampshire - Noxious Weed Law
Rhode Island - Noxious Weed Law
South Carolina - Noxious Weed Law
Tennessee - EPPC List
Texas - Invasive Plant List
Vermont - Noxious Weed Law
Virginia - Invasive Alien Plant Species
Mid-Atlantic - EPPC List
Invasive Plants: Western North America
Invasive Plants: Guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species
Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest
Invasive Plant Atlas of New England
Invasive Plant Atlas of the Mid-South
Midwest Invasive Plant Network

Invasive Plants of the United States

tree of heaven

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Selected Images from Invasive.org

Click on each thumbnail to download the image at 1536x1024 resolution or below for available resolutions.

Use 768x512 for Microsoft PowerPoint and use 1536x1024 for Prints and Publications.

Invasive Reference(s):

Check Invasive.org for most current lists.

External Links


				Bargeron, C.T., C.R. Minteer, C.W. Evans, D.J. Moorhead, G.K. Douce and R.C. Reardon. Technical Coordinators. 2008. Invasive Plants of the United States DVD-ROM: Identification, Biology and Control. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. Morgantown, WV. FHTET-08-11.