Tree of Heaven 
Ailanthus altissima 
Introduced from China to provide food for silkworms. Shade-intolerant and very fast growing. Generally free from insects and disease; resistant to air pollution. Roots often clog drains, break sidewalks and foundations, and are not recommended for ornamental use. 

BUDS: False end buds; lateral buds small, subglobose, brownish and downy.

TWIGS: Very stout; yellowish to light brown with yellow or brown pith; covered with light hairs when young; large leaf scars. 

BARK: Gray-brown and smooth; over time becoming rough and fissured; looks like surface of a cantaloupe. 

HABITAT: Urban environments and waste areas; thrives in adverse conditions and disturbed sites; immune to dust and smoke; introduced from China. 
 
 

 
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