Tree of Heaven

Tree of Heaven

Ailanthus altissima

Colorado List C - Control Recommended

Information Sheet (PDF)

General

  • Family: Simaroubaceae (Quassia)
  • Introduced from Asia as an ornamental

Habitat

  • Woody perennial tree or shrub
  • Colony forming 
  • Found in landscaped areas and disturbed sites

Plant

Vegetation

  • Tree to 80 feet tall.  Trunk to 6 feet wide
  • Compound leaves 30+ inches long
  • Leaflets opposite with a single terminal leaflet.  Smooth edges with glands at the base
  • Twigs alternate, with no terminal bud. Pith is spongy, resembles peanut butter.  Leaf scars are heart shaped
  • Bark grayish brown, somewhat smooth resembling cantaloupe skin
  • Foul-smelling

Roots

  • Spreading

Flower

  • Late June – July
  • Dense groups

Seed

  • Single seed in a winged samara
  • Arranged in large groups
  • Up to 300,000 seeds per tree

Reproduction

  • Roots
  • Seed
  • Stumps will re-sprout


Control

Biological

  • None 

Chemical

Use all chemicals according to the manufacturer's label. No specific recommendation or endorsement is made or implied by listing methods or products.

Cultural

  • Prevention – maintain health of site
  • Removal - Combined with herbicide treatment of cut surfaces and re-sprouts
  • Re-vegetation of highly disturbed sites

Mechanical

  • Burning - N/a
  • Grazing - N/A
  • Mowing - N/A