The Garden Bug: Not so heavenly!

By Brenda Weaver

Ailanthus altissima, known as Chinese sumac or Tree-of-Heaven, is native to China. In the late 1700s, it was brought to the U.S. as an attractive, fast-growing ornamental tree. Since then it has spread throughout North America and displaced many native species. Dense thickets of it entrench fields and forests, destroy habitats and crowd agricultural fields and roadsides. It regrows vigorously even when thought to be removed, and it is tolerant of poor soil and drought.

Sources: www.invasive.org, www.nature.org, www.lewisginter.org
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