Accession Count: 5
Common Name:
tree of heaven, Chinese sumac, varnish tree
Family Name:
Simaroubaceae
Botanical Name:
Ailanthus altissima
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Ailanthus altissima is a deciduous and fast-growing tree that reaches heights of about 50 feet with a trunk about 12 inches in diameter. This species has a lush and dense appearance as the trunk is light brown to gray and smooth but becomes slightly fissured and rough on mature trunks. The twigs are also light brown though very thick, and hairy when young with dark brown pith. The alternate pinnately compound leaves are 1 to 3 feet long. There are approximately 13 to 25 leaflets each being about 3 to 15 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide. These leaflets are oblong with a dark green color above and a pale green below. The tree produces numerous small, greenish flowers that bloom in late spring. The flowers then give way to numerous fruits about 1 ½ " long narrow and flat. The reddish-brown fruits do not mature until the fall but often remain on the tree through most of the winter. The bark, leaves, and flowers possess a strong foul odor. In addition to this, A. altissima is a highly invasive species in riparian areas, which can also invade dry washes.
Compound:
Ail alt
Geographic Origin:
China
Ecozone Origin:
Palearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
The genus name is derived from a Chinese word meaning "tree of heaven" or "tree of the gods". The word "altissima translates to "very tall". The tree was not introduced to England until 1751 but quickly spread to France North America and other temperate regions.
Cultivation Notes:
Because Ailanthus altissima is fast to grow, it is also called the "weed tree" as it can tolerate remarkably poor soil and other harsh conditions. However, A. altissima reseeds freely and can harm native vegetation in washes as it is highly invasive in landscape with its roots. It also produces numerous suckers from its base and can heave nearby foundations and hardscape. While also hardy, the species requires full sun and partial shade.
Ethnobotany:
The tree is cultivated widely in France for the leaves, on which the caterpillar or the silk spinning Ailanthus moth is fed. This yields a silk more durable and cheaper than mulberry silk, though not as glossy. The wood of A. altissima, which is satiny and yellowish-white, is well-suited for cabinet making. The bark, although it smells quite displeasing, is boiled and the broth is used as a remedy for dysentery and diarrhea in some areas. Due to its foul odor, dense thickets, and short lifespans, this species is rarely used as an ornamental.
Height:
20 - 50 feet
Width:
16 - 20 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Green
Function:
Shade
Spread:
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Water Use:
Moderate Water Use
Citations:
1. Jones, Warren D, and Charles M Sacamano. Landscape Plants for Dry Regions More Than 600 Species from around the World. Fisher Books, 2000.
