Tree of Heaven

Hi all,

I posted a message over on the Trees forum, but thought I would also ask the locals.

We have a Tree of Heaven coming up (from a neighbor's that has since been cut down), and I'm torn on whether to leave it in or rip it out. I've been reading the reviews on the Plant File, and there is a lot of hatred for it.

I was just wondering if any of you have them and actually like them? We have Sumacs, so I'm constantly pulling out those shoots, but I've made peace with them. LOL I'd hate to double that task. So far, I've seen 3 shoots from the Tree of Heaven, but I also have a lot of landscape fabric where they're coming up, so maybe that's helping keep the numbers down.

Thanks for your input.

Rip it out! It is highly invasive and illegal to plant in many areas. Their roots emit some kind of chemical that poisons the soil to eliminate any competition. It is harmful to native trees and shrubs. Ailanthus.

http://www.invasive.org/weedus/subject.html?sub=3003

Hi Judi,

I finished reading all the negative comments about it. As much as I want a tree where it is, it's probably best to get rid of it now. It sounds like it can be a beast! Too bad.

A beast, and very dangerous to our forests!

OMG, I have these I've been pulling up, and never realized what they were! Not a good sign if I have them here and you have them in the PNW.

Some people have a romantic idea about Ailanthus because that was the only tree that would grow in vacant lots in 'A Tree Grows In Brooklyn' but they don't realize that those trees were killing all the others!