Tree-of-Heaven

Scientific name: Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle

Common names: Tree-of-heaven, China-sumac, varnishtree

Native To: China

Date of U.S. Introduction: Late 1700s

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Ornamental

Impact: Crowds out native species; damages pavement and building foundations in urban areas

Current U.S. Distribution:

• PLANTS Database map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System

U.S. States and U.S. National Parks Where Reported Invasive: WeedUS Database map

Management Plans: Plants / Tree-of-Heaven

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Ailanthus altissima
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Exotic Weeds II (Tree of Heaven) - Integrated Pest Management Manual
DOI. National Park Service.
Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: Excellent references section

Tree of Heaven - Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas (2002)
DOI. National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

Ailanthus altissima - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Legal Aspects

Ailanthus altissima Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Ailanthus altissima - Silvics of North America, Agriculture Handbook 654, Volume 2: Hardwoods
USDA. Forest Service.
Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Tree-of-Heaven - Weed of the Week (Mar 19, 2006; PDF | 199 KB)
USDA. FS. Northeastern Area. Forest Health Protection.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Ailanthus altissima - Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)
USDA. Forest Service. Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photograph; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Tree-of-Heaven - Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests: A Field Guide for Identification and Control
USDA. Forest Service. Southern Research Station.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Controls

Plant Profile for Ailanthus altissima - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Tree of Heaven
Arizona Department of Transportation. Intermodal Transportation Division.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls; Legal Aspects

Tree-of-Heaven - Invasive Plants of Ohio
Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Natural Areas and Preserves.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Tree-of-Heaven - Invasive Alien Plants of Virginia (PDF | 85 KB)
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Natural Heritage Program; Virginia Native Plant Society.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Identification/Distribution; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Control; Special Note: Scientific review and assessment (PDF | 154 KB)

Ailanthus altissima (Tree-of-heaven, Copal Tree) - Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE)
University of Connecticut. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Tree of Heaven - WeedUS Database
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution

Tree-of-Heaven
University of Florida. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Distribution

Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven)
University of Massachusetts - Boston. Biology Department. Conservation New England.
Illustrations; Introduction History; Distribution; Dispersion; Special Note: Animation of the spread of Tree of Heaven across Massachusetts over time

Tree of Heaven - Introduced Species Summary Project
Columbia University. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Tree-of-Heaven - Ohio Perennial & Biennial Weed Guide
Ohio State University. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History

Tree-of-Heaven - Invasive Plant Fact Sheets (PDF | 107 KB)
University of Pennsylvania. Morris Arboretum; Delaware River Invasive Plant Partnership.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Tree-of-Heaven - Fact Sheet: Invasive Weeds (PDF | 52 KB)
Pennsylvania State University. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Dispersion; Controls

Tree-of-Heaven - Weed Identification
Australian Weeds Committee. Weeds Australia.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution

Ailanthus altissima (shrub, tree) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Tree-of-Heaven - Invasive Exotics (PDF | 73 KB)
Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve (Pennsylvania).
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Habitat; Dispersion; Controls

Ailanthus altissima
Discover Life.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Tree-of-Heaven - BioBullies (Western Pennsylvania)
Natural Biodiversity.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Ailanthus altissima
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Tree-of-Heaven
Plant Conservation Alliance. Alien Plant Working Group.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Ailanthus altissima
Pulling Together Initiative. Texasinvasives.org.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: References

Tree-of-Heaven - Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual
Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle, Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: Bibliography