Leaf

Philmarin, Wikimedia · CC-BY-SA-4.0

Tree of heaven

Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle

Also known as: Ailanthus

Family: Simaroubaceae

15 to 25 m tall

Very common in towns and on wasteland, originally planted as an ornamental and street tree

Flowering: June – July

Full sun

Part shade

Hardy to about -25°C

❓ How do you recognise this plant?

Introduced to Europe as an ornamental tree in the 18th century, it has since naturalised so successfully that it is now classed as an invasive alien species.

🍃 Leaves

Deciduous, compound, very large, up to 60 cm, with numerous leaflets giving off a strong smell when crushed

🌸 Flowers

Small, greenish, in large upright panicles; unpleasant smell from the male flowers

🍎 Fruits

Winged samaras turning reddish-brown, grouped in clusters, persisting on the tree for a long time

🪵 Bark

Grey, smooth, marked with pale vertical streaks

🗺️ Distribution

Native to China, introduced to Europe in the 18th century as an ornamental tree, now widely naturalised and considered invasive

🐝 Value for pollinators

Nectar-rich flowers visited by many insects despite their smell

✂️ Horticultural uses

Formerly planted for its fast growth and tolerance of pollution; now discouraged because of its strongly invasive character

⚠️ Possible toxicity

Sap irritating to the skin and eyes, able to cause severe contact dermatitis (cases documented in tree surgeons); bark, leaves and flowers toxic to livestock if eaten in large quantities.

ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.

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