Is it a good garden tree?

No, it is highly invasive and difficult to remove once established.

How do I get rid of it?

You must remove the entire root system or use systemic herbicides.

Plant guide

Tree of heaven.

Ailanthus altissima

Pronounced ay-LAN-thus al-TISS-ih-muh

Also known as China-sumac, Chinese Tree-of-heaven, Chinese sumac, Copal Tree, Ghetto Palm

The tree of heaven is a fast growing deciduous tree known for its ability to thrive in harsh urban environments. It is considered highly invasive in many regions due to its aggressive root suckering and prolific seed production. You should be aware that it often outcompetes native plants and can damage infrastructure.

Another photo of Tree of heaven — Photo by Юрий Данилевский (Yuriy Danilevsky) (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Deciduous tree
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 50 to 80 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Early to mid summer

Care

This tree requires very little maintenance and will grow in almost any soil condition. Watch for suckers spreading from the root system, as they can quickly colonize new areas. It is generally best to avoid planting this species due to its invasive nature.

Watering: Once established, it is extremely drought tolerant.
Feeding: It rarely needs supplemental feeding in natural soil.
Pruning: Pruning is only necessary to remove dead wood or manage size.
Repotting: It is not typically kept in containers due to its size.
Soil: Adaptable to most soil types
Soil pH: 4.1 to 8.0
Temperature: -35 to 40°C
Humidity: 30 to 80%

Safety

People: Contact with the leaves or sap can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Pets: This plant is considered toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: The seeds and leaves should be kept away from children as they may cause irritation or illness if handled or ingested.
Contact allergens: The sap and leaves can cause skin irritation or rashes upon contact.
Airborne allergens: The pollen can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals during the flowering season.
Edibility: The plant is not considered edible and parts may cause gastrointestinal distress if ingested.

How to identify it

Large pinnately compound leaves
Glandular teeth at leaf base
Smooth gray bark
Clusters of winged seeds
Distinctive unpleasant odor when crushed

Height: 15 to 25m
Spread: 10 to 15m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, green, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: red, brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

Root SuckeringCommon
Verticillium WiltCommon
AphidsUncommon
CankerUncommon
Leaf SpotUncommon
Scale InsectsUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your tree of heaven from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: seed, root cuttings, suckers
When to plant: spring, autumn

It is best to avoid planting this species entirely due to its invasive nature.

Keep away from

Native hardwoods · This tree releases chemicals that inhibit the growth of native forest species.

Similar species

Staghorn sumac · It has similar compound leaves but is a much smaller and less aggressive native shrub.

Science

Family: Simaroubaceae
Genus: Ailanthus
Order: Sapindales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Northeast and central China
Conservation: It is widely considered a noxious weed and is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in poor, disturbed soils and outcompetes native vegetation through rapid growth and chemical warfare.

Value to wildlife: larval host plant
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: ornamental, erosion control

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 4/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 6/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 2/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it a good garden tree?: No, it is highly invasive and difficult to remove once established.
How do I get rid of it?: You must remove the entire root system or use systemic herbicides.

Where the name comes from

The name Ailanthus comes from the Amboinese word for tree of heaven, while altissima means tallest.

Good to know

It is often called the tree of heaven.
The tree grows extremely fast in disturbed soil.
It was popularized in the book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
The leaves have a distinct, unpleasant odor when crushed.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your tree of heaven growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.