Tree of Heaven occurs statewide. It is on the worst pest list for The Nature Conservancy's North Carolina mountain sites.

Tree of Heaven creates a toxin that inhibits neighboring plants, and all of its parts have a disagreeable odor. Tree of Heaven has spread into natural areas where it competes aggressively with native trees and shrubs. It reproduces vigorously, producing a tremendous number of seeds and suckers and resprouting from cut stumps and roots.

Tree of Heaven can reach heights of 80 feet. Its smooth, gray bark has small bumps all over.  Its large compound leaves (1-4 feet), are composed of 11-25  leaflets. Leaf twigs have 7 to 13 paired leaflets 2 to 5 inches long and a terminal leaflet. Clusters of tiny, greenish-yellow flowers bloom at the ends of branches from late May to early June. Female trees produce seeds in flat, twisted, pinkish papery winged structures that may stay on the tree through the winter.

NOTE: Do not confuse Ailanthus with native shrubs such as sumacs or trees such as ash, black walnut and pecan. Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), native to the eastern U.S., is distinguished from ailanthus by its fuzzy, reddish-brown branches and leaf stems, erect, red, fuzzy fruits, and leaflets with toothed margins.