Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Ailanthus altissima
tree-of-heaven
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington, British Columbia to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Escaped ornamental in roadsides, waste areas, along railroad tracks, and other open, disturbed areas.

Flowers: May-July

Origin: Introduced from China

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Beetles

Description:
General:

Large, fast-growing, smooth-barked, sub-dioecious trees.

Leaves:

Leaves very large, alternate, pinnate, deciduous, glabrous or puberulent; leaflets 10-25, the terminal one often absent, lance-ovate, 4-15 cm. long, with 1-3 coarse, rounded teeth on each side near the base, each tooth bearing a gland on the lower side.

Flowers:

Inflorescence a large, open panicle; flowers small, greenish, 6-8 mm. broad, ill-scented; sepals 5, persistent; petals 5, deciduous; stamens 10 on the perfect and staminate flowers.

Fruits:

Samaras 2.5-5 cm. long, spirally twisted.

Accepted Name:
Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle
Publication: J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 6(14): 495. 1916.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Ailanthus glandulosa Desf.
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Ailanthus altissima in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Ailanthus altissima checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Ailanthus altissima information.

E-Flora BC: Ailanthus altissima atlas page.

CalPhotos: Ailanthus altissima photos.

USDA Plants: Ailanthus altissima information.

59 photographs:
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