A New-to-Me City Tree
Ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven) is a common tree of cities. When I talk to people about it I often mention it is the tree featured in Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. People are generally surprised to know this tree, by now a well-known invasive, is the subject of this well-loved book. Tree of heaven is ubiquitous in cities, I first became familiar with its ways in Newark, NJ and then saw it all around Philadelphia when I started working in the area. Found in nearly every vacant lot or fallow area, it is considered invasive and ecologically problematic. It is also the host plant for the troublesome spotted lanternfly. This is the weed tree of the city I am familiar with, this is not, however, the tree pictured above.
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HORT travels 