Ailanthus altissima

Tree of heaven is a beautiful name for an extraordinary plant. It comes from China but is completely hardy in our climate.

It is a tall tree suitable for large garden, parks or as a street tree. It is grown for unusually big leaves that can be half a meter long. The are compound of upto 30 individual, elongated leaflets.

Flowers appear in summer. They are creamy white, formed in terminal panicles. They are followed by orange or red-brown fruit, similar to those of ash. It needs a sunny and hot summer to flower and fruit profusely.

It grows very fast and can be left to grow sky-high or kept as a large garden shrub by cutting it back every spring to 50-100 cm. Its large leaves will definitely catch everyone’s attention. Suckering may be a problem when its roots are damaged by digging around. It adapts to any soil type. Fully hardy to -34°C.

Last update 06-02-2008.