Que savons-nous de l’Ailante (Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle) ?

The tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle) originates from China and was introduced into France during the second half of the 18th century. It was initially planted in city parks and was later briefly but intensively grown for the purpose of producing silk. It is now widely disseminated in the natural environment and is locally invasive, especially in open forests and on grasslands. Its invasiveness is due to essential biological characteristics, i.e. the large quantity of fruit and natural herbicide it produces, its rapid vegetative growth in the form of suckers and shoots. Although this tree has some benefits, it also presents a risk of biodiversity degradation, which is why methods for control are being investigated. It would be wise to stop planting this tree and monitor its distribution.