Tree Of Heaven

Ailanthus altissima

Physical Characteristics

Ailanthus altissima is a deciduous Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from September to November. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought. The plant is not wind tolerant. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Distribution

E. Asia - China. Naturalized in Britain[17].

Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy; Hedge; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Edible Uses: Leaves - cooked[105]. Used as an emergency food in times of scarcity, they have an offensive odour[2, 177, 178]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal Uses

Anthelmintic Antibacterial Anticonvulsant Antidiarrhoeal Antispasmodic Astringent Bitter Cardiac Deobstruent Diuretic Dysentery Emetic Emmenagogue Epilepsy Febrifuge Malaria Rubefacient The tree of heaven is not often used in Western herbal medicine, though it is more popular in the Orient. Various parts of the plant are used, though the bark is the part most commonly used - however, it contains a glycoside that has not been fully researched and so should be used with caution. The root and stem bark are antispasmodic, astringent, bitter, cardiac depressant, diuretic, emetic, febrifuge, rubefacient and vermifuge. The vermifuge properties do not act on round worms or earthworms. A nauseatingly bitter herb, it is used internally to treat malaria and fevers, it also slows the heart rate and relaxes spasms. It needs to be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner since the bark readily causes vomiting. In China, the bark is a popular remedy for dysentery and other complaints of the bowels. In one clinical trial, 81 out of 82 patients were cured of dysentery when they were given this herb. A tincture of the root-bark has been used successfully in the treatment of cardiac palpitations, asthma and epilepsy. Tree-of-heaven is a folk remedy for asthma, cancer, diarrhoea, dysentery, dysmenorrhoea, dysuria, ejaculation (premature), epilepsy, eruption, fever, gonorrhoea, haematochezia, leucorrhoea, malaria, metrorrhagia, sores, spasms, spermatorrhoea, stomachic, tumours of the breast (China), and wet dreams The bark is harvested in the spring and dried for later use. The leaves, bark of the trunk, and roots are put into a wash to treat parasitic ulcers, itch, and eruptions. In Korea, the root bark is used in the treatment of coughs, gastric and intestinal upsets. The stembark is emmenagogue. The leaves are anthelmintic, astringent and deobstruent. The fruit is used in the treatment of bloody stools and dysentery. They have also been used to treat ophthalmic diseases. Extracts from the plant are bactericidal. The tree is used in homeopathic remedies for cancer. A resin extracted from the roots and leaves is a revulsive or vesicant.

Known Hazards

The plant is possibly poisonous[7, 20]. Male flowers have potentially allergenic pollen[200]. The leaves are toxic to domestic animals[269]. Gardeners who fell the tree may suffer rashes[269]. The odour of the foliage is intensely disagreeable and can cause headache and nausea, rhinitis and conjunctivitis[269].The pollen can cause hay fever[269].