As people go global, so do seeds. Unfortunately, we can't open our arms or our backyards to all of these seeds. Many non-native species never become harmful or prolific in our climate. A few however, thrive to the point of eliminating or choking out native plants and habitat. I think any of us living or visiting in the Southeastern U.S. could agree Kudzu has become just a bit too "comfortable" in our bio region.
At ArborEssence, we've had our eye on another non-native come "happy camper" here in the U.S. Ailanthus altissima or 'Stink Tree', a central China native, has become one of the fastest growing invasive trees in our area. Six to ten feet of growth a year is common for these trees when young, so it is easy to see how they can become 'established' parts of the landscape before you know it! As the seeds of the Ailanthus have one of the highest germination rates in our area (One study reports that an individual tree can produce as many as 325,000 seeds per year!) it is imperative to prevent these trees from taking hold in our urban, suburban or rural forests. If you think you have an Ailanthus tree but aren't sure, call or email to set up an appointment and we can help you positively identify your tree or trees. We'd also be glad to help you with the removal as well.
