tree-of-heaven USDA PLANTS Symbol: AIAL
U.S. Nativity: Exotic
Habit: Hardwood Trees
Ailanthus altissima (P. Mill.) Swingle
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Sapindales: Simaroubaceae
Synonym(s): tree of heaven, ailanthus, copal tree, stinking shumac, varnish tree, Chinese sumac, paradise-tree
Native Range: China (REHD, BAIL);
Appearance
Ailanthus altissima 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 large leaf scars on the twigs.
Foliage
Foliage is one of the best identifying characteristics for this species. The leaves are pinnately compound and 1-4 ft. (0.3-1.2 m) in length with 10-41 leaflets. Ailanthus altissima resembles native sumac and hickory species, but it is easily distinguished by the glandular, notched base on each leaflet.
Flowers
Species is dioecious and flowering occurs in early summer when large clusters of yellow flowers develop above the foliage.
Fruit
Fruit produced on female plants are tan to reddish, single winged and can be wind or water-dispersed.
Ecological Threat
Ailanthus altissima forms dense, clonal thickets which displace native species and can rapidly invade fields, meadows, and harvested forests. This invasive tree species is extremely tolerant of poor soil conditions and can even grow in cement cracks. Ailanthus altissima is not shade tolerant, but easily invades disturbed forests or forest edges causing habitat damage. Introduced as an ornamental, it was widely planted in cities because of its ability to grow in poor conditions. Management and control efforts for this species continue across the United States at great economic cost.
Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org 		 


State List
This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law.
U.S. National Parks where reported invasive:
Antietam National Battlefield (Maryland)
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (Virginia)
Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina)
Booker T Washington National Monument (Virginia)
Catoctin Mountain Park (Maryland)
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (Maryland, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia)
Colonial National Historical Park (Virginia)
Death Valley National Park (California)
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (Pennsylvania)
Eisenhower National Historic Site (Pennsylvania)
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park (Virginia)
George Washington Birthplace National Monument (Virginia)
Gettysburg National Military Park (Pennsylvania)
Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina & Tennessee)
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (West Virginia)
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (Indiana)
Kings Mountain National Military Park (South Carolina)
Manassas National Battlefield Park (Virginia)
Monocacy National Battlefield Park (Maryland)
National Capital Parks East (Washington, D.C.)
Petersburg National Battlefield (Virginia)
Prince William Forest Park (Virginia)
Richmond National Battlefield Park (Virginia)
Rock Creek National Park (Washington, D.C.)
Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)
Stones River National Battlefield (Tennessee)
Vicksburg National Military Park (Mississippi)
Yosemite National Park (California)


Invasive Listing Sources:
Alabama Invasive Plant Council
California Invasive Plant Council
City of Ann Arbor Michigan Parks and Recreation
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 1994.
Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
Delaware Invasive Species Council
Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council
Hoffman, R. & K. Kearns, Eds. 1997. Wisconsin manual of control recommendations for ecologically invasive plants. Wisconsin Dept. Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources. Madison, Wisconsin. 102pp.
Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council
Maryland Cooperative Extension Service.  2003. Invasive Plant Control in Maryland. Home and Garden Information Center, Home and Garden Mimeo HG88. 4 pp.
Native Plant Society of Oregon, 2008
New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee. 2005. Guide to Invasive Upland Plant Species in New Hampshire. New Hampshire Department of Agriculture,  Markets and Food Plant Industry Division and New Hampshire Invasive Species Committee.
Non-Native Invasive Plants of Arlington County, Virginia
Non-Native Invasive Plants of the City of Alexandria, Virginia
Reichard, Sarah. 1994.  Assessing the potential of invasiveness in woody plants introduced in North America. University of Washington Ph.D. dissertation.
Rhode Island Natural History Survey
South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council
Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council
Virginia Invasive Plant Species List
West Virginia Native Plant Society, Flora West Virginia Project, and West Virginia Curatorial Database System, September 3, 1999