tree of the month Belfast Botanic Gardens

Friends of Belfast Botanic gardens

Tree of the month series - this series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic Gardens is compiled by members of the Friends group and Gardens staff. The series will gradually build up to a comprehensive archive of information about the trees in Belfast Botanic gardens. Each article will illustrate the tree in Belfast together with information from a range of sources elsewhere.

Click here for the rest of the trees

Tree of the Month, August 2008

Tree of Heaven - Ailanthus altissima

by Jonathan Pilcher
Attractive tree with cream flowers in August and later pinkish fruit. The young specimen near the bandstand in Belfast Botanic Gardens was planted in the 1970's and now flowers very prolifically. Although very attractive when young, this is not a tree for a small garden as it can reach 28m height. It is also said to spread from suckers which can extend up to 30m from the parent tree. In the UK it does not set viable seed (yet!), but in warmer climates it can become an invasive nuisanse by seeding. It has compound leaves (cf. walnut and ash), with each leaflet having usually a single,or up to 6, basal teeth. The teeth have a gland that oozes an unpleasant-smelling nectar. This is observed to attract ants which then control leaf-eating insects.


Young Ailanthus tree in Belfast Botanic gardens	Ailanthus altissima leaf

tree above photographed from near the bandstand	Flowering branch of Ailanthus altissima

Flowers of Ailanthus altissima	Detail of leaf gland on Ailanthus altissima leaflet