West 11 Street Park

Tour Stop 2: Tree of Heaven

                                     

To hear Wireless Wilderness Audio for:  Stop #2

 

This tree is called Tree of Heaven. It is native to China, and was originally brought to this country in the early 1800s.

If you ever read the best-selling novel "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith, you will have heard of this tree. As she described it: "No matter where its seed falls, it makes a tree...it would be considered beautiful except that there are too many of it." 

 

Its foreign origin, hardiness, and fast growth make Tree of Heaven an undesirable invasive species.  In addition, this tree uses allelopathy, producing a chemical in the bark and roots that inhibits the growth of other plants that would compete with it.

Tree of Heaven has large leaves, 1 to 4 feet in length, composed of 11 to 25 smaller leaflets with one or more notches near the base. There are small yellow flowers in spring, and seeds in flat papery structures in the early fall. The most characteristic feature of Tree of Heaven is its smell; if you crush a leaf in your fingers, you will be able to smell old peanut butter.

We talk about non-native invasive species at other locations on this tour.  Do you remember what they are?  For more information about invasive species in the park that we are gradually attempting to eradicate, go to Stop #52.  

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To view: Tour Map

To learn more on:  Tree of Heaven

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