A very tough and easily grown tree, succeeding under most conditions, the Tree of Heaven is resistant to most diseases and is also reported to be tolerant of alkalinity, drought, frost, heat, high pH, hydrogen fluoride, low pH, pollution, SO2, poor, dry or wet soils, heavily polluted soils and industrial pollution. The plant prefers a light moist soil and a sheltered position. Prefers a position in full sun or partial shade. The tree is estimated to tolerate an annual precipitation of 30 to 250cm (tolerating a dry season up to 8 months), an annual average temperature of 10° to 20°C, and a pH of 5.5 to 8.0. Growing on the smallest of city plots and rubbish heaps, this species obviously can tolerate a wide array of soils, from acid to alkaline, sand to light clay, well-drained to swampy, poor to rich. It is said to do poorly on chalky soils or compact clay. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c. A very ornamental tree, it has a somewhat tropical appearance and is fast growing when young, though it is rather short-lived. The trees send up suckers freely and soon form dense thickets. The plant has become a noxious weed in parts of Australia and is rather weed-like in many other countries. The roots are rather aggressive and can cause damage to drainage systems. The plants thrive even when growing in very polluted cities and so have been used as street trees and as shade-trees in parks, they do not do well in the north of Britain, however. Male flowers are malodorous and have potentially allergenic pollen. The crushed leaves are also malodorous. The large leaves have glandular teeth near their base and these release a pungent aroma when pressed. The disagreeable odour of the plant may cause some people to feel sleepy. This tree is occasionally cultivated for its wood. This is brittle however, and branches are very liable to break off in the wind. Trees coppice readily. The leaves were once used as a food for silkworms, but were found to be unsuitable. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Leaves - cooked. Used as an emergency food in times of scarcity, they have an offensive odour. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Seed - best sown outdoors as soon as it is ripe. If you only have a small quantity of seed it will probably be better to sow it in a cold frame. The germination can be poor, averaging about 56%, though one kilo of seed will normally produce in the region of 6,500 usable plants. The seed germinates best if given a short cold stratification of 8 weeks. The seed is not usually produced in Britain. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, keep them in a cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring. Root cuttings in December. Suckers, planted out in late winter.

Uplands.