12 Foot Tall Evergreen Weed ...... what is it?

[Alicehunter2000]

I always wondered what this was can anyone tell me?

[Silas_Sancona]

Looks like "Tree of Heaven" (Ailanthus altissima) which is considered a weed tree, much like China Berry. It is sometimes mistaken for a Sumac but for one, when you rub the leaves or leafstalks, they smell something like old/rancid Peanut Butter. It also produces maple-like seeds instead of berries. Tends to show up in disturbed areas or around old residences. Very fast growing/prolific.

-Nathan-

[JimStPete]

Those are the first trees to show up in any construction site in the NYC/NJ metro area! I actually liked them when I lived up there because they look 'tropical' (for NY/NJ). I've never seen them here in Florida yet. They're evergreen in Florida David? Up north, in the fall their leaves turn a really brilliant red/orange (very nice looking) before they turn into 'bare sticks' for the next 6 months. I thought 'Tree of Heaven' was a nick name for them and that they were actually Sumac trees...thanks for teaching me something new today Nathan by explaining the differences!!

Edited June 12, 2014 by JimStPete

[Gonzer]

Watch the beginning of 'Deliverance', plenty

of 'em in the scene where they're bargaining to go to Aintree.

[Silas_Sancona]

Not a problem Jim. Staghorn and Smooth Sumac which look very similar, will readily colonize recently disturbed sites as well.

Tree of Heaven used to be used as a city tree due to it's tolerance to air pollution and general neglect. In CA. I don't recall ever seeing completely evergreen specimens, at least up in the Bay Area. Most seemed to drop 80-95% of their leaves/leafstalks in the winter.

-Nathan-

[Alicehunter2000]

Hmm...maybe I'm wrong about their evergreen'ess .... thanks for telling me what it is....now a little research.

[DoomsDave]

David/Alice . . .

How about a closeup of leaves, etc.? That will help a lot.

Sumac is a cool plant in some ways, a pain in the others. Some sumacs you can use to make "pink lemonade" while others are like poison Ivy. Ailanthus is good to practice tree-i-cide on . . . .

[Alicehunter2000]

Ah...no...don't want one due to the allelopathic properties. Thanks folks for the id

[Alicehunter2000]

However, if it is a Staghorn Sumac....it might be ok...I'll try and get some better pictures.

[The Silent Seed]

If it's only 12' it is a sumac - especially if they have red fuzz on the branches.

If they turn into a tree - it's a tree of heaven. (Ailanthus.)

Both are very weedy here.

[Alicehunter2000]

This is a closeup

[Alicehunter2000]

Now this is a different weed that also grows here......this I do not believe is the same plant

[Silas_Sancona]

David,

The last pictures are Elderberry (Sambacus sp.) Have a few of these growing in the woods behind the house.


-Nathan-

[Xerarch]

Looks like "Tree of Heaven" (Ailanthus altissima) which is considered a weed tree, much like China Berry. It is sometimes mistaken for a Sumac but for one, when you rub the leaves or leafstalks, they smell something like old/rancid Peanut Butter. It also produces maple-like seeds instead of berries. Tends to show up in disturbed areas or around old residences. Very fast growing/prolific.

-Nathan-

I always thought the broken leaves smelled a bit like popcorn

[The Silent Seed]

Yes, on the Elderberry.

[Silas_Sancona]

Ammon,

Agree with you on some degree of a Popcorn-like smell to the leaves of Ailanthus. I always came away with the Peanut butter smell id referenced when ever I set out to cut down specimens in the past. Some of the Cassia/Sennas also exhibit a similar foliage scent. Besides size and texture of the foliage, This distinct feature was another way I found to tell the difference between two Cassia species often sold as "Apple Blossom Cassia" down here.

The one foliage smell I wish more plants had, Creasote, can't get enough of that smell.

-Nathan-

[Xerarch]

Ahhh creosote, the "desert after the rain" smell, something I miss about the west.

[Moose]

Must not be a weed indigenous to California because BS Man did not have any.