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Tree of Heaven

A road with double yellow lines leading through a rocky landscape with two people walking alongside and shrubs around.

Tree-of-heaven is a fast-growing tree that is native to China and Taiwan. Now established globally, and aggressively invasive particularly in the United States and Europe, tree-of-heaven was historically brought outside of its native range for ornamental purposes. 

This tree is resistant to drought and tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions and pollution, which is why historically it was desirable for urban areas. Its distribution is limited by cold temperatures, and its occurrence is limited by a lack of shade tolerance.

Tree-of-heaven produces compounds that make it resistant to predations from herbivores and diseases caused by pathogens. 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. This species has detrimental impacts on native plant species, built infrastructure, and human health. It is also the preferred host of the invasive Spotted Lanternfly.

The adult insect feeds primarily on the invasive tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), although nymphs are known to feed on a wide range of native hardwood and fruit trees. Grapevines are a preferred host of SLF, which feed in large swarms.

 

Wheeler SWCD was unsuccessful in an ODA award to eradicate Tree of Heaven from Wheeler County landscapes. Staff is continuing to seek funding assistance to conduct treatment and restoration for Tree of Heaven. 

We encourage landowners and the public to contact us if they suspect Tree of Heaven in location(s) not already identified. If you are battling with a Tree of Heaven infestation, we welcome you to reach out for guidance on treatment timing and procedures. 

 

Wheeler SWCD Five-Year Tree-of-Heaven Treatment and Restoration Plan

Five-Year Plan.pdf

 

Additional  Resources

ODA TreeOfHeavenProfile.pdfUConn-Extension-Ailanthus-altissima-Tree-of-Heaven-Fact-Sheet.pdfTree-of-Heaven-Fact-Sheet.pdf3-managing-tree-of-heaven-ailanthus-altissima-on-roadsides.pdfEO News Article 2023.pdf

 https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/plants/tree-heaven

https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/indiana/stories-in-indiana/journey-with-nature--tree-of-heaven/

https://agr.wa.gov/departments/insects-pests-and-weeds/weeds/tree-of-heaven/tree-of-heaven-101

 

The below map is available for download 

TOH Map Overview.pdf
Map showing Tree-of-Heaven confirmed sites in Wheeler County with rivers, towns, highways, and different zones marked.
Tree branches with green leaves and a sun flare.
A tree branch with leaves and dry grass against a backdrop of a lattice and a hint of a brick structure.
Close-up of a plant with compound leaves, possibly suffering from pest or disease damage.
Dry grassland with rocks, green trees, and an upside-down perspective.
Dense foliage with dry grass, possibly hiding a structure or object beneath. Image is rotated.
May contain: leaf, plant, tree, herbal, herbs, flower, vegetation, and astragalus
A textured log surrounded by dry, intertwined branches and vegetation.
A tree with green leaves and dry underbrush; image is rotated 90 degrees.
A rotated landscape showing trees, a path, and grassy areas.
Aerial view of a green tree contrasted with brown and grey terrain, possibly depicting deforestation or a lone tree in a cleared area.
A leafy green tree, brown grass, a metal gate, and stone steps leading to a hillside.
A curving road with double yellow lines, guardrails, and a rocky hillside. (Note: The image appears to be rotated.)
A bird perched on a tree branch with green foliage and a water body in the background.
Green leaves with some holes, possibly from insect feeding or disease.
Two people walking on a road with rocky hills and greenery under an overcast sky.
Close-up of green leaves on a branch, with a blurred background.
Rocky terrain with dry grass and shrubs, under an overcast sky. (The image is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise.)
A road with double yellow lines, rocky terrain, sparse vegetation, and a vehicle on the shoulder.
Dry grass, fallen branches, and green leaves.
Close-up of green leaves with vein patterns.
A tree in the foreground with a river and hills in the background, under a cloudy sky.
Green fern-like plants with multiple leaflets on a dry terrain.
A close-up of tree branches with green leaves.
A close-up of green compound leaves with multiple leaflets on a branch.
May contain: road, plant, tree, tarmac, vegetation, and freeway
Ferns growing next to rough, brown stones.
Rocky cliffside with shrubs and greenery. Image is rotated; gravity-defying trees suggest original orientation to be 90° clockwise.
Green foliage and tree branches with a backdrop of a dry, barren slope.
Aerial view of vegetation with green trees and dry ground, possibly a natural boundary between ecosystems.
Clusters of green seeds hanging among leafy branches.
Aerial view of trees and terrain, split by vertical lines possibly indicating sections or property divisions.
May contain: nature, outdoors, wilderness, plant, vegetation, grass, countryside, hill, fir, tree, and ground
A rotated landscape with a river, trees, shrubs, and a hillside.
May contain: field, grassland, nature, outdoors, plant, tree, vegetation, savanna, grass, fir, grove, land, woodland, countryside, farm, pasture, and rural
Green leaves on a branch, with a blurred background of foliage and a mossy wall.
A large tree with lush green leaves, possibly recently pruned branches, near a building with a tile roof.
Close-up of a tree trunk with textured bark.
A fallen tree with distinctive bark patterns, covered with yellow lichen, amidst various twigs and debris.
Lush greenery with fern-like plants and touches of orange, possibly indicating seasonal change.
A tree with green leaves and hanging seed pods or fruit under a bright sky.
Green leaves with prominent veins on a plant stem, natural background.
Branch with green leaves and raindrops.
A dense tree with green foliage and a grassy ground.
Close-up of green leaves with red stems, likely from a tree, with branches and sky in the background.
A winding road with trees, grasses, and a hazy sky, possibly indicating recent wildfires or smog.
A green tree in the foreground, with a satellite dish and a mobile home in the background.
Trees, grass, path, and part of a building, all in a landscaped area. (Image is rotated 90 degrees to the right.)
A close-up of a tree trunk with green pinnate leaves, possibly in a garden or urban setting.
Green leaves on a branch with a blurred natural background.
May contain: plant, tree, and tree trunk
A tree with green foliage and dry grass beneath, under an overcast sky.
Green leaves with some red-pink tones, possibly indicating a change in season or plant variety.
A rotated view of a dry landscape with a trail, grass, and trees on a hillside.
Rural landscape with trees, a path, and a glimpse of a house hidden by foliage.
Tree branches with green leaves and a sun flare.
A tree branch with leaves and dry grass against a backdrop of a lattice and a hint of a brick structure.
Close-up of a plant with compound leaves, possibly suffering from pest or disease damage.
Dry grassland with rocks, green trees, and an upside-down perspective.
Dense foliage with dry grass, possibly hiding a structure or object beneath. Image is rotated.
May contain: leaf, plant, tree, herbal, herbs, flower, vegetation, and astragalus
A textured log surrounded by dry, intertwined branches and vegetation.
A tree with green leaves and dry underbrush; image is rotated 90 degrees.
A rotated landscape showing trees, a path, and grassy areas.
Aerial view of a green tree contrasted with brown and grey terrain, possibly depicting deforestation or a lone tree in a cleared area.
A leafy green tree, brown grass, a metal gate, and stone steps leading to a hillside.
A curving road with double yellow lines, guardrails, and a rocky hillside. (Note: The image appears to be rotated.)
A bird perched on a tree branch with green foliage and a water body in the background.
Green leaves with some holes, possibly from insect feeding or disease.
Two people walking on a road with rocky hills and greenery under an overcast sky.
Close-up of green leaves on a branch, with a blurred background.
Rocky terrain with dry grass and shrubs, under an overcast sky. (The image is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise.)
A road with double yellow lines, rocky terrain, sparse vegetation, and a vehicle on the shoulder.
Dry grass, fallen branches, and green leaves.
Close-up of green leaves with vein patterns.
A tree in the foreground with a river and hills in the background, under a cloudy sky.
Green fern-like plants with multiple leaflets on a dry terrain.
A close-up of tree branches with green leaves.
A close-up of green compound leaves with multiple leaflets on a branch.
May contain: road, plant, tree, tarmac, vegetation, and freeway
Ferns growing next to rough, brown stones.
Rocky cliffside with shrubs and greenery. Image is rotated; gravity-defying trees suggest original orientation to be 90° clockwise.
Green foliage and tree branches with a backdrop of a dry, barren slope.
Aerial view of vegetation with green trees and dry ground, possibly a natural boundary between ecosystems.
Clusters of green seeds hanging among leafy branches.
Aerial view of trees and terrain, split by vertical lines possibly indicating sections or property divisions.
May contain: nature, outdoors, wilderness, plant, vegetation, grass, countryside, hill, fir, tree, and ground
A rotated landscape with a river, trees, shrubs, and a hillside.
May contain: field, grassland, nature, outdoors, plant, tree, vegetation, savanna, grass, fir, grove, land, woodland, countryside, farm, pasture, and rural
Green leaves on a branch, with a blurred background of foliage and a mossy wall.
A large tree with lush green leaves, possibly recently pruned branches, near a building with a tile roof.
Close-up of a tree trunk with textured bark.
A fallen tree with distinctive bark patterns, covered with yellow lichen, amidst various twigs and debris.
Lush greenery with fern-like plants and touches of orange, possibly indicating seasonal change.
A tree with green leaves and hanging seed pods or fruit under a bright sky.
Green leaves with prominent veins on a plant stem, natural background.
Branch with green leaves and raindrops.
A dense tree with green foliage and a grassy ground.
Close-up of green leaves with red stems, likely from a tree, with branches and sky in the background.
A winding road with trees, grasses, and a hazy sky, possibly indicating recent wildfires or smog.
A green tree in the foreground, with a satellite dish and a mobile home in the background.
Trees, grass, path, and part of a building, all in a landscaped area. (Image is rotated 90 degrees to the right.)
A close-up of a tree trunk with green pinnate leaves, possibly in a garden or urban setting.
Green leaves on a branch with a blurred natural background.
May contain: plant, tree, and tree trunk
A tree with green foliage and dry grass beneath, under an overcast sky.
Green leaves with some red-pink tones, possibly indicating a change in season or plant variety.
A rotated view of a dry landscape with a trail, grass, and trees on a hillside.
Rural landscape with trees, a path, and a glimpse of a house hidden by foliage.