The tree of heaven affects people in many ways. Its aggressive root system can cause damage to pavement, sewers and building foundations. The plant has also helped advance the spread of the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect also originally from China.
The tree is allelopathic, meaning it releases chemicals into the soil that are toxic to other plant species. This combination of highly successful reproductive traits, tolerance for a wide variety of environmental conditions, defense mechanisms, and allelopathy make tree-of-heaven highly invasive.
Herbicides applied to foliage, bark, or frill girdles are effective at controlling tree-of-heaven. Note that cut stump herbicide applications encourage root suckering and are not generally recommended without repeated follow up treatments.
The tree-of-heaven is a high pollen producer aggravating those with allergies. Direct contact can cause skin irritation and, in rare cases, inflammation of the heart muscle has been documented from exposure to sap through broken skin.
Herbicides are usually the most effective way to kill the root system of mature tree-of-heaven and to control regrowth from cut trees that occurs as sprouts or root suckers.
The dried bark from the trunk and root are sometimes used in folk medicine. Tree of heaven is used for diarrhea, asthma, cramps, epilepsy, fast heart rate, gonorrhea, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In manufacturing, tree of heaven is used as insecticide.
Identifying a tree during the dormant season is not always easy, but a mature tree of heaven has a very distinct, rough and fissured bark that looks like the skin of a cantaloupe. The leaves are long with a central stem and leaflets on either side.
But, be careful to wear gloves if you plan on touching Tree of Heaven. Handling the leaves and branches of this tree can cause a skin rash due to exposure to the sap.
Most roots occur in the upper 18 inches (46 cm) of soil [211]. Stand structure: Tree-of-heaven typically occurs in clumps, although it may form rows along streams, roads, and fences, and occasionally it grows as widely spaced, single stems.
It also emits a bad smell from its flowers; has no natural predators; and serves as a sanctuary for destructive invasive insects, such as the spotted lanternfly.
I have quotes from regular tree removal companies that start at $3,500 but those from certified arborists start at $8,000. NONE include herbicide before or after, just felling and grinding, even after certified arborists saw the tree, confirmed its species, and I expressed wanting to eradicate the ongoing problem.
Suggested chemical control during July, August, and up to mid-September is to cut tree-of-heaven down to one inch from the ground and immediately apply straight (undiluted) glyphosate herbicide to the freshly cut stump using a paint brush or sponge applicator. Roundup®'poison ivy killer' works very well.
If the goal is to restore nature at home, removing invasive species needs to be a priority. Otherwise, the invasive will do the same thing they do in natural areas and make it difficult to create a healthy ecosystem with native plants.
If a tree-of-heaven (TOH) is cut & removed without first using an herbicide & waiting at least 30 days, then the tree will respond with potentially dozens of trunk sprouts & root suckers that could emerge 50-feet from a large parent tree.
Tree-of-heaven can affect human health. The tree is a very high pollen producer and a moderate source of allergy in some people. In addition, a few cases of skin irritation or dermatitis have been reported from contact with plant parts (leaves, branches, seeds, and bark) and products.
Tree of heaven is a toxic plant to dogs, posing significant health risks if ingested. Dogs can accidentally consume parts of this plant, which may lead to poisoning. The leaves and flowers are particularly dangerous and should be kept out of reach from pets.
Uses: Tree of Heaven can be used for cabinetry, turned objects, and paper (pulpwood). Availability: In many locations Tree of Heaven is considered an invasive species. The wood is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List.
The tree of heaven is a problem because it reproduces very quickly and aggressively inhibits (and can even kill) native plants near it.
A mixture of glyphosate plus triclopyr is a useful standard mix for managing most vegetation targets. It has broad activity and low risk to non-targets and is economical, both in terms of per-acre cost and container size, for the commercial applicator or the individual landowner.
Here is the leaf of staghorn sumac. As you can see, like Tree-of-Heaven, the leaves are also pinnately compound with a central stem, or rachis. However, staghorn sumac leaves are shorter than Tree-of-Heaven, ranging from 16 to 24 inches long, and having anywhere from nine to 31 leaflets.
A prolific seed producer—one tree-of-heaven can produce up to 350,000 seeds in a year—the tree has overrun native vegetation, taken over crop fields, overcrowded forest openings and become a fixture of American cities.
Tree of heaven is abundant in southeastern Pennsylvania, where spotted lanternfly is found. The prevalence and pervasiveness of tree of heaven provides a readily available food source for the spotted lanternfly, allowing them to multiply and expand their range.
It can be commonly confused with native trees and shrubs such as sumacs, ash, hickory, black walnut, butternut and pecan, but these are distinguishable by their completely serrated leaflets.
It's hard to determine exactly which is the most sacred tree, but far and away the most revered and worshiped is Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, a fig tree located in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is the southernmost branch of the Bodhi tree in India, under which Buddha attained Enlightenment.
While beautiful in autumn with its bright red color, Tree of Heaven will produce over 52 million seeds during its 100-year life. That's much more than other trees like maples and oaks. And, while oaks will take decades to produce acorns, Ailanthus produce viable seeds in just a few years.