Ailanthus is a persistent and aggressive weed that grows quickly, up to 8ft tall the first year alone. Commonly known as Chinese Sumac, or Tree-of-Heaven, this deciduous tree grows up to 60′ tall and 40′ wide with a gray tinted bark. This tree is highly adaptable and tolerant to pollution. The tree is commonly found in urban areas and has a limited ability to thrive in a shaded forest environment. The Tree of Heaven forms areas of dense thickets that affect native plant and tree species. Its roots, leaves, and bark release allelopathic chemicals which prevent other plants from growing.
The Tree of Heaven reproduces from both seed and root sprouts. Their highly viable seeds are distributed easily by the wind. The seedlings are smaller than root sprouts and have trifoliate leaves. Sprouts will have a cluster of leaves with a varying number of leaflets. Seedlings have thin, branching roots while sprouts are connected to a thick, durable root. Sprouts can appear up to 50 ft away from the nearest Ailanthus. In New Jersey, seeds are dispersed October through early April, while about half disperse October-November.
How To Identify a “Tree of Heaven” Ailanthus Tree
A mature Tree of Heaven has a rough and fissured bark. The leaves are long with a central stem and leaflets on either side. The leaves are so large, they can be mistaken for several leaves, though it’s actually one large leaf with up 40 smooth-edged leaflets. The flowers of the male Tree of Heaven product a terrible odor.
Removing Tree of Heaven
To remove a fully-grown Tree of Heaven, the tree must be cut down to the ground, and the stump ground out. For several months after removal, any new sprouts, suckers, and seedlings must be identified and removed as well.
At Reliable Tree Service, we can identify and remove Tree of Heaven. We have removed this invasive species for hundreds of homeowners throughout Hudson and Bergen counties. We encourage you to give us a call if Tree of Heaven is spreading on your property. We can evaluate your unique situation and provide an accurate estimate for removal.