Tree of Heaven

Simaroubaceae

LIFE FORM: Tree

NATIVITY: Eastern Asia

VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS:

Can grow to 50 or 60 feet tall; large, alternate, compound leaves with 11-25 leaflets per leaf; crushed foliage has distinct, medicinal odor; sparsley branched with stout twigs and conspicuous leaf scars.

FLOWERS:

Small, greenish-yellow flowers in June; separate male and female trees.

FRUIT/DISPERSAL AGENTS:

Single-seeded, winged samara (winged fruit); clusters of samara persist into winter; after being cut it can spread by suckering, sprouting as far as 3.5 meters from main stem; seeds dispersed by wind.

ECOLOGICAL PREFERENCE:

Grows rapidly in full sun; vacant lots and waste dumps, woodlands on abandoned land, small-scale pavement openingd (tree pits) and cracks, chain-link fence lines, roadway banks.

ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTION:

Heat reduction in paved areas, salt tolerance along roadways, drought tolerance on compacted soils, air pollution tolerance, erosion control on slopes, soil building in degraded landscapes.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Used in traditional Chinese medicine; introduced early into North America and has spread widely in both urban and rural areas. Introduced as an ornamental and for soil conservation purposes. Invasive species in minimally managed habitats.