Brush - Range & Pasture - Tree of Heaven

BES-TEX BRUSH ID GUIDE

Tree of Heaven

Ailanthus

Ailanthus altissima

Perennial Woody Brush

Plant Type

Invasive tree; quassia family (Simaroubaceae)

Life Cycle

Perennial; introduced

Leaf Habit

Deciduous

Typical Height

[PLACEHOLDER]

Photo Gallery

Tree of heaven trees with large compound leaves and clusters of seeds — **Whole Tree** Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tree of heaven green stem with stout leaf stalks — **Stem and Leaf Stalks** Photo: NY State IPM Program at Cornell University from New York, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to Identify It

Quick ID

Leaves

Alternate, pinnately compound with 10 to 41 lance-shaped leaflets
One or more raised glands or teeth at each leaflet base (OSU, NC State)

Odor

Crushed leaves and bark smell foul, like rancid peanut butter (NC State)

Twigs

Large heart-shaped leaf scars (NC State)

Seeds

Clusters of winged seeds on female trees (NC State)

Look-Alikes

Sumac

Tree of heaven leaflets have glands at the base and a foul smell; sumac leaflets are toothed along the edge (details: [PLACEHOLDER])

Counter script: "If it is a fast-growing tree with long compound leaves, a bump at the base of each leaflet, and a foul smell when crushed, it is most likely tree of heaven."

Where It Grows

Texas

[PLACEHOLDER]

Oklahoma

Scattered throughout the state (OSU)

New Mexico

[PLACEHOLDER]

Sites and soils: [PLACEHOLDER]

Best Time to Control

Best treatment timing for tree of heaven: [PLACEHOLDER]. Follow the product label.

Tree of heaven is a woody perennial. No pre-emergent herbicide controls tree of heaven.

Treatment Methods

Herbicide Options

We did not find a Corteva non-restricted product label or Texas A&M Brush Busters guide that lists tree of heaven. Call BES-TEX for help choosing a labeled option.
Rates and mixes: follow the label

Individual Plant vs. Broadcast

Density guidance for this plant: [PLACEHOLDER]
Follow the label for broadcast use

Product names are examples only. Always read and follow the product label. For product selection and help, contact BES-TEX at 325.653.1300.

Sources: Oklahoma State University Extension, Tree of Heaven profile; NC State Extension, Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus). No Texas A&M rangeplants page found. No Corteva non-restricted label or Brush Busters guide found listing tree of heaven.