Ailanthus
Tree-of-heaven · also Ailanthus, Stinktree, Chinese sumac
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Ailanthus altissima, also known as Tree-of-Heaven, is a fast-growing, deciduous tree native to northern China. It is highly adaptable and thrives in harsh urban conditions, tolerating heat, drought, poor soils, wind, and air pollution. While considered invasive in many regions due to its aggressive growth and prolific seed production, its toughness and ornamental seeds are sometimes appreciated.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 190.04%17 yr—
- 50.00%—12 in
- 20.00%—5.1 in
- 10.00%——
- 10.00%—1.9 in
Traits
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Mature height
- 40–60 ft
- Canopy spread
- 40–60 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 11 in, mean 10 in, 90th percentile 17 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests
- Central China Loess Plateau mixed forests
- Northeast China Plain deciduous forests
Tropical & Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
- South Taiwan monsoon rain forests
Montane Grasslands & Shrublands
- Southeast Tibet shrublands and meadows
Other Ailanthus in the catalogue
2 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
