The Tree of Heaven is a remarkable tree species often used in landscaping. It is also known as the Ailanthus altissima and is native to China. This tree species can grow up to 80 feet tall.
Tree Of Heaven's Appearance
The tree has a unique appearance differentiates it from other tree species. Its leaves are pinnately compound, each with 10-41 leaflets. The bark is smooth and gray, becoming rough and fissured with age. The tree leaves turn a beautiful yellow color in the Fall (End of October), making it an excellent addition to any landscape.
Tree Of Heaven's Growth Rate
One of the tree's most essential advantages is its rapid growth rate. This tree species can grow up to 24 inches a year, making it an excellent choice for landscaping projects requiring fast-growing trees.
Tree Of Heaven Soil and Climate Requirements
A hardy tree species can grow in various soil and climate conditions. It can tolerate many soils, including acidic, alkaline, loamy, sandy, and clay. This tree species can also tolerate drought and air pollution, making it an excellent choice for urban landscapes.
Tree Of Heaven's Maintenance
While the tree is easy to grow, it does need regular maintenance to keep it healthy and prevent it from becoming invasive. Regular pruning and trimming are necessary to keep the size of the tree in check and prevent it from becoming too dense. It is also essential to remove any suckers that appear around the base of the tree to prevent them from taking root and growing into new trees.
In conclusion, Tree Of Heaven is a unique species well-suited for various landscaping projects. Its rapid growth rate, hardiness, and distinctive appearance make it an excellent addition to any landscape. The tree can provide years of beauty and shade to any landscape if adequately maintained.
It reaches heights up to 70 feet when mature. The tree's leaves are close in appearance to sumac, with some of its foliage measuring 3 feet long. Some trees are confused with walnut trees, but unlike walnut trees, the tree does not yield nuts or fruit. Instead, male and female plants produce panicles, long flower clusters similar to oats or lilacs.
The female flowers are odorless and are generally preferred over the male type. The tree's bark is brown, and its leaves turn orange-red in the autumn. A prolific grower, it thrives in zones 4 through 8, growing best in dry soils and full sun.
The tree was initially developed as a street tree because of its tolerance to air pollution, ability to thrive in poor soils, and rapid growth. The tree grows up to 5 feet per year and resembles a palm tree in its early stages. What makes this tree valuable, aside from its exotic appearance, is its ability to increase in areas where other trees fail to thrive. Its lifespan is 30 to 70 years, considered short-lived for a tree.
However, the tree will provide your yard or garden much-needed shade while longer-lived trees mature. It is a rapid-growing tree that adapts well to textured soils and is durable with its medium drought tolerance.
It is native to China and Europe, and its leaves are still often used as an antiseptic in traditional Chinese medicine. The tree responds well to pruning and has vibrant regrowth after being cut back. Its heart-shaped, large leaves make it an attractive shade tree.
This tree survives in harsh conditions, although it does not survive moist soils or flooding. Gardeners find the tree beneficial because it attracts honeybees and other pollinators. A delightful addition to new yards and gardens, the Tree of Heaven grows quickly and rapidly adds lush vegetation to your landscape.
