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100 Species #9: Tree of Heaven
Tree of heaven Ailanthus altissimma
Before we even decided to move to this house, I noticed this small Ailanthus tree growing along the back wall. "That has to go, " I told Alexis "first thing." Ailanthus is my favorite urban tree. It's an aggressively invasive species, taking root in the poorest, thinnest soils. It masquerades as a nondescript weed at first, then spends the winter as a thin colorless twig. Before you know it, it's an established sapling tree, with robust roots tight gripping the pavement and building foundations. In the bleakest, most heavily paved parts of the city, it may be the largest tree around.
With great effort, we cut the roots of the tree about three inches below the surface. Later as we walked the dogs I told her "That tree is going to come back, you know."
"Yeah it is."
Ailanthus altissima has previously appeared numerous times in this journal. It was 365 Urban Species #266, grew through a radiator in the zoo, and appeared four times in the daily Urban Picture project.
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I like the picture of it growing out of the shed, though, and not just because it's comforting to know that it is far away from me. I also like the other picture of the ostrich shed.
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