tree-of-heaven |
Plants: Hardwood Trees |
|
Magnoliopsida > Sapindales > Simaroubaceae > Ailanthus altissima (P. Mill.) Swingle
|
| Synonym(s): tree of heaven, ailanthus, copal tree, stinking shumac, varnish tree |
| 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. |
| Image |
Descriptor |
Description |
Photographer |
| 0008044 |
Bark |
|
Paul Wray |
| 0008045 |
Bark |
|
Paul Wray |
| 1480039 |
Bark |
|
Richard Webb |
| 2190058 |
Bark |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2190059 |
Bark |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2307008 |
Bark |
Mature tree on Auburn University campus near library in August |
James H. Miller |
| 5398850 |
Bark |
tree trunk |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5402914 |
Bark |
|
Annemarie Smith |
| 5403449 |
Bark |
|
Annemarie Smith |
| 5344051 |
Control |
|
Nancy Fraley |
| 1344077 |
Control |
|
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Resource Management Archive |
| 5306055 |
Diagram or Graphic |
Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 2: 446. |
USDA PLANTS Database |
| 2307007 |
Feature(s) |
leaf gland in September |
James H. Miller |
| 5292027 |
Feature(s) |
leaf scar and bud |
Jan Samanek |
| 1551191 |
Feature(s) |
leaf scar |
Daniel Herms |
| 1330079 |
Feature(s) |
Glandular notch at the base of the leaflets. Martin County, KY |
Chris Evans |
| 0016005 |
Feature(s) |
Distinctive glands on ears at leaflet bases. |
James H. Miller |
| 1560109 |
Feature(s) |
leaf scars |
Daniel Herms |
| 1560110 |
Feature(s) |
leaf scar |
Daniel Herms |
| 1560112 |
Feature(s) |
leaf scar |
Daniel Herms |
| 2131099 |
Feature(s) |
Glandular notch on leaflets |
Chris Evans |
| 5408412 |
Feature(s) |
glandular notch on leaves |
Karan A. Rawlins |
| 5403438 |
Feature(s) |
Tree of heaven gland dots |
Annemarie Smith |
| 5398876 |
Flower(s) |
|
Robert Vidéki |
| 5398851 |
Flower(s) |
|
Robert Vidéki |
| 5398852 |
Flower(s) |
|
Robert Vidéki |
| 5398859 |
Flower(s) |
|
Robert Vidéki |
| 5398860 |
Flower(s) |
|
Robert Vidéki |
| 5398861 |
Flower(s) |
|
Robert Vidéki |
| 5398862 |
Flower(s) |
|
Robert Vidéki |
| 5391830 |
Flower(s) |
Smelly, nasty flowers |
John M. Randall |
| 1299010 |
Flower(s) |
|
David J. Moorhead |
| 5292030 |
Flower(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5269087 |
Flower(s) |
Staminate inflorescence |
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5269088 |
Flower(s) |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5269089 |
Flower(s) |
Pistillate flowers with young fruit |
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5292032 |
Flower(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5292033 |
Flower(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5292034 |
Flower(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5292035 |
Flower(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5292036 |
Flower(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5341052 |
Flower(s) |
|
John M. Randall |
| 5391832 |
Flower(s) |
More flowers |
John M. Randall |
| 5292044 |
Foliage |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5292045 |
Foliage |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5292048 |
Foliage |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5225035 |
Foliage |
|
Richard Old |
| 5225036 |
Foliage |
|
Richard Old |
| 5225037 |
Foliage |
|
Richard Old |
| 5292031 |
Foliage |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5292028 |
Foliage |
just emerging |
Jan Samanek |
| 5292029 |
Foliage |
expanding foliage |
Jan Samanek |
| 5269092 |
Foliage |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5269095 |
Foliage |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5225033 |
Foliage |
|
Richard Old |
| 2190056 |
Foliage |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2307005 |
Foliage |
July |
James H. Miller |
| 1299009 |
Foliage |
|
David J. Moorhead |
| 1344132 |
Foliage |
|
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Resource Management Archive |
| 0008441 |
Foliage |
|
Paul Wray |
| 0008442 |
Foliage |
|
Paul Wray |
| 1150026 |
Foliage |
|
Chuck Bargeron |
| 1150027 |
Foliage |
tree of heaven (top) compared to mimosa (bottom) |
Chuck Bargeron |
| 1480037 |
Foliage |
|
Richard Webb |
| 1560102 |
Foliage |
|
Ohio State Weed Lab Archive |
| 1560104 |
Foliage |
view from above tree |
Ohio State Weed Lab Archive |
| 1553093 |
Foliage |
|
Ohio State Weed Lab Archive |
| 2135067 |
Foliage |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 5396337 |
Foliage |
|
Robert Vidéki |
| 5402906 |
Foliage |
Compound leaves of tree-of-heaven |
Annemarie Smith |
| 5402907 |
Foliage |
glandular teeth |
Annemarie Smith |
| 5403437 |
Foliage |
|
Annemarie Smith |
| 5408529 |
Foliage |
|
Karan A. Rawlins |
| 5408537 |
Foliage |
pinnately compound leaves |
Karan A. Rawlins |
| 5408538 |
Foliage |
glandular leaf notches |
Karan A. Rawlins |
| 5408411 |
Foliage |
|
Karan A. Rawlins |
| 5403439 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Annemarie Smith |
| 1560101 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Ohio State Weed Lab Archive |
| 2132027 |
Fruit(s) |
in September |
James H. Miller |
| 2135053 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 2135055 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 2135056 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 1150029 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Chuck Bargeron |
| 1459001 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Steve Dewey |
| 5225038 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Richard Old |
| 5292047 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5292038 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5292039 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5292040 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5292041 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5306054 |
Fruit(s) |
|
Steve Hurst |
| 5345026 |
Infestation |
|
David J. Moorhead |
| 5345027 |
Infestation |
|
David J. Moorhead |
| 5369538 |
Infestation |
Mixture of desirable and invasive species by trail |
Arthur E. Miller |
| 5302016 |
Infestation |
|
Chuck Bargeron |
| 5302017 |
Infestation |
|
Chuck Bargeron |
| 2190060 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2190061 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2308054 |
Infestation |
Infestation along roadside |
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 2308132 |
Infestation |
|
John M. Randall |
| 1299011 |
Infestation |
|
David J. Moorhead |
| 1299005 |
Infestation |
|
David J. Moorhead |
| 1299006 |
Infestation |
|
David J. Moorhead |
| 1299007 |
Infestation |
|
David J. Moorhead |
| 1299008 |
Infestation |
|
David J. Moorhead |
| 2135066 |
Infestation |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 2190050 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2190052 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2190053 |
Infestation |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2135063 |
Infestation |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 5391836 |
Infestation |
Thickets galore |
John M. Randall |
| 5408534 |
Infestation |
|
Karan A. Rawlins |
| 0580056 |
|
seedlings in agricultural field, seed source is the trees at forest edge |
Jil M. Swearingen |
| 0580057 |
|
seedlings in agricultural field, seed source is the trees at forest edge |
Jil M. Swearingen |
| 0580058 |
|
young tree showing compound leaves and fuzzy reddish stems |
Jil M. Swearingen |
| 1334082 |
Plant(s) |
Small tree-of-heaven plants (center and lower right) growing among the very similar looking, and native, winged sumac (top left and top right) |
Chris Evans |
| 1344015 |
Plant(s) |
|
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Resource Management Archive |
| 2135057 |
Plant(s) |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 2135054 |
Plant(s) |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 2190055 |
Plant(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2190057 |
Plant(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 5269094 |
Plant(s) |
plants in forests |
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5386583 |
Plant(s) |
plants. |
Joseph M. DiTomaso |
| 5386584 |
Plant(s) |
young plants in urban area. |
Joseph M. DiTomaso |
| 5386585 |
Plant(s) |
male plant with flowers. |
Joseph M. DiTomaso |
| 5386586 |
Plant(s) |
female plant with fruit. |
Joseph M. DiTomaso |
| 5386587 |
Plant(s) |
young plant. |
Joseph M. DiTomaso |
| 5391833 |
Plant(s) |
Native at China's Great Wall |
John M. Randall |
| 5405691 |
Plant(s) |
|
Bonnie Million |
| 5396332 |
Plant(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5398454 |
Sapling(s) |
sucker |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5398456 |
Sapling(s) |
sucker |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5398457 |
Sapling(s) |
sucker |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5398458 |
Sapling(s) |
sucker |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5405690 |
Sapling(s) |
|
Bonnie Million |
| 1330046 |
Sapling(s) |
Growing in recently cut-over area. Polk County, IA |
Chris Evans |
| 0016004 |
Seed(s) |
immature seeds with leaves on Auburn University campus near the library in July |
James H. Miller |
| 1150028 |
Seed(s) |
|
Chuck Bargeron |
| 1480035 |
Seed(s) |
|
Richard Webb |
| 5402908 |
Seed(s) |
Tree-of-heaven seeds in August |
Annemarie Smith |
| 1560098 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Ohio State Weed Lab Archive |
| 2135059 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 2135060 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 2135061 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 2135068 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 1330048 |
Seedling(s) |
Growing in a recently cut-over area. Polk County, IA |
Chris Evans |
| 5302019 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Chuck Bargeron |
| 5292025 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5269090 |
Seedling(s) |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 5292026 |
Stem(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5391828 |
Stem(s) |
Characteristic leaf scars |
John M. Randall |
| 1560105 |
Stem(s) |
|
Ohio State Weed Lab Archive |
| 1552102 |
Tree(s) |
|
Catherine Herms |
| 1480038 |
Tree(s) |
|
Richard Webb |
| 2135058 |
Tree(s) |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 2135069 |
Tree(s) |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 2190054 |
Tree(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2190051 |
Tree(s) |
|
Chris Evans |
| 2135062 |
Tree(s) |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 1560100 |
Tree(s) |
|
Ohio State Weed Lab Archive |
| 2135064 |
Tree(s) |
|
Ian Trueman |
| 2135065 |
Tree(s) |
|
Barbara Tokarska-Guzik |
| 1480034 |
Tree(s) |
|
Richard Webb |
| 1150030 |
Tree(s) |
|
Chuck Bargeron |
| 5391829 |
Tree(s) |
A few bad trees |
John M. Randall |
| 5391834 |
Tree(s) |
Bold tree |
John M. Randall |
| 5391835 |
Tree(s) |
|
John M. Randall |
| 5331002 |
Tree(s) |
tree growing up through an old truck |
Adam Downing |
| 5292046 |
Tree(s) |
|
Jan Samanek |
| 5292042 |
Tree(s) |
in flower |
Jan Samanek |
| 5292043 |
Tree(s) |
in flower |
Jan Samanek |
| 5292037 |
Tree(s) |
in flower |
Jan Samanek |
| 5269091 |
Tree(s) |
|
Leslie J. Mehrhoff |
| 2307002 |
Tree(s) |
August |
James H. Miller |
| 2307003 |
Tree(s) |
July |
James H. Miller |
| 5225034 |
Tree(s) |
|
Richard Old |
| 2307010 |
Tree(s) |
July |
James H. Miller |
| 2308024 |
Tree(s) |
Trees growing along Interstate Highway 75 in Forsyth, Georgia |
Chuck Bargeron |
| 5402909 |
Tree(s) |
|
Annemarie Smith |
| 5396333 |
Tree(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5403440 |
Tree(s) |
|
Annemarie Smith |
| 5403444 |
Tree(s) |
Tree of heaven growing in building foundation |
Annemarie Smith |
| 5395993 |
Tree(s) |
habitat; saplings |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5391831 |
Tree(s) |
Blighted plants |
John M. Randall |
| 5396426 |
Tree(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5396428 |
Tree(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5396429 |
Tree(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5396738 |
Tree(s) |
habitat |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5397517 |
Tree(s) |
habitude |
Robert Vidéki |
| 5398865 |
Tree(s) |
tree trunk |
Robert Vidéki |
| 2307009 |
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) |
October |
James H. Miller |
| 2307004 |
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) |
February |
James H. Miller |
| 0008550 |
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) |
Buds and leaf scars |
Paul Wray |
| 1551192 |
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) |
|
Daniel Herms |
| 1551193 |
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) |
|
Daniel Herms |
| 1560106 |
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) |
|
Daniel Herms |
| 1560108 |
Twig(s)/Shoot(s) |
|
Daniel Herms |
