COMMON NAMES:   Ailanthus, Tree-of-heaven

SPECIFIC GRAVITY:  

DENSITY:  

TANGENTIAL MOVEMENT:

RADIAL MOVEMENT:

VOLUMETRIC SHRINKAGE:

DURABILITY1:   Poor

SOURCE:  Originally from southern China, now grows throughout the east-central US.

DESCRIPTION:   Known as the "tree of heaven," this fast-growing tree originated in Asia and was introduced into the US around 1750. The wood is ring-porous and moderately soft, with figure and color similar to ash. Ailanthus works well, but has relatively poor stability and an often offensive odor when worked.

1 Durability refers to a wood's resistance to rotting in wet environments.