Ailanthus excelsa

Cultivation Details

A plant of the semi-arid to wet tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 900 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 40°c, but can tolerate 4 - 47°c^[1]. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -5°c or lower, but new growth can be killed at -1°c^[1]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 600 - 1,900mm, but tolerates 400 - 2,500mm^[1]. Grows best in a very sunny position^[1]. Prefers a light to medium soil, growing well in sandy soils of medium to low fertility so long as there is adequate moisture^{[2, 1]}. Plants are relatively tolerant of salt in the soil^[2]. The branches are rather brittle, so a position sheltered from strong winds is preferred^[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 7^[1]. Mature plants are drought tolerant^[2]. A fast-growing tree^[1]. The tree coppices well and produces root suckers that should be thinned to reduce competition^[2]. Survivability of newly planted trees is poor if the trees are not sufficiently watered during their first and second years of growth^[1]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.