Grid reference | ST 17386 79810 |
Common name | Tree of heaven |
Origin | North China |
Deciduous | Yes |
Status | Wales Champion 2015 |
Height | 18M August 2015 |
Girth | 198cm August 2015 |
Reference | 282 |
This tree is on the western boundary of the park, opposite 33-34 George V Drive West. It has winged seeds in the late summer and therefore is a female tree. The number of leaflets per leaf were typically 14 or 16.
General tree description
Ailanthus altissima is a tall, fast-growing tree reaching heights of 30 metres. It has smooth, dark grey bark and huge leaves, 30 to 60cm or more, pinnate with up to 20 pairs of leaflets. They emerge pink but mature to dark green. The flowers are yellowish green or cream plumes appearing in mid summer. Ailanthus altissima is dioecious, with male and female flowers being borne on different individual trees. Male trees produce many more flowers then females, making the male flowers more conspicuous, and they emit an unpleasant odour while flowering. Female trees have huge bunches of fruits similar to ash-keys, each fruit having a seed at its centre. The seeds are initially green and ripen to red in late summer.