Common Name(s): Ailanthus, tree of heaven, Chinese sumac
Scientific Name: Ailanthus altissima
Distribution: Native to China; widely naturalized worldwide
Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall,
2-3 ft (.6-1 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 37.1 lbs/ft3 (600 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .44, .60
Janka Hardness: 1,420 lbf (6,300 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 11,060 lbf/in2 (76.2 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,623,000 lbf/in2 (11,19 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 6,680 lbf/in2 (46.1 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 6.1%, Tangential: 10.8%,
Volumetric: 17.1%, T/R Ratio: 1.8
The roots of this tree emit an enzyme that inhibits the growth of other plants, further aiding its ability to become invasive. The enzyme appears to be deadly to Spartan Junipers, if my own personal experience is any indication. It is an absolute nightmare to try to get rid of. Even after cutting it down and grinding the stump, you will have suckers that will come up from the old root system. The only reliable way I have found to kill it is Bayer Brush and Weed Killer. Fully concentrated, and painted onto the bark of the tree. It takes… Read more »
These trees are just about impossible to get rid of – we had a cluster that appeared next to our last house, and we tried to eliminate them three times without success – cut them down to below ground level and dosed them with herbicide, but the following spring, there they were. They grow fast and are nice looking. At one point they’d gotten taller than the house and the thickest trunk was about 2.5″ in diameter; when I cut them down that time I set aside a piece of that trunk about five feet long to dry. It’s been… Read more »
ailantus has almost no rot resistance. a piece left on the ground will be powder in a year. It is the least rot resistant wood i have ever encountered.
I’ve cut alot of these trees as its usually in the way while clearing land. I’ve never cut any lumber out of it. It’s known around here as a Peanut Butter Tree because it smells like rotten peanut butter when cut. I certainly wouldn’t have it in my shop until the smell dissipated.
This tree may be considered to be invasive but the wood itself is quite beautiful and tends to have a nice straight figure since the trees grow straight 99% of the time.
I’ve harvested one of these trees in the past and debarked it and the sap had no ill effects on me. Working the wood had no ill effects on me as well. It’s quite a nice wood to work with in my opinion.
i agree i work in a wood shop and its a very nice wood to work with.
SomeLumberjack, I hate to tell you but these trees are very difficult to eradicate. They propagate largely through their extensive root system. If you cut one down, more will pop up in its stead. Another highly invasive tree from Asia, Paper Mullberry, is similar and can quickly colonize an area. I know because they have invaded my property in Southern NJ. I grew up in Phila and the Ailanthus grew everywhere. We used to call them dump trees.
They’ve made it up to New Hampshire. I cleared some out with a group, and after cutting them down, we either burned or painted herbicide around the stumps.
This tree is very invasive. They support spotted lantern flies, too. I believe that if we cut all of them down, we can avoid the flies from getting past Philadelphia.
Well, I for one am extremely allergic to the wood. Rashes over my whole body with black scabs under the skin. That was from brief exposure to the sap or juices of the wood when I broke a branch. Not fun… Plus it is toxic to cattle and horses, I’ve heard. but perhaps that’s just the foliage. It’s also a tree that supports many destructive invasive Asian insects and is extremely invasive itself especially along highways and in cities. Plus, when freshly broken it smells very strongly like a skunk. I’m surprised that isn’t mentioned here… That’s the most obvious… Read more »
I read of cases where workers who were cutting down these tree ended up with myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) from exposure to the sap. I will say one thing, these trees smell horrible is you crush the leaves. One of the most awful odors ever.