What does ailanthus mean?
Ailanthus is a noun naming any tree of the genus Ailanthus, most famously Ailanthus altissima, commonly called the tree of heaven. Native to China, this remarkably fast-growing deciduous tree was introduced to Europe and North America as an ornamental street tree in the eighteenth century and has since naturalized across much of the world. It tolerates poor soil, pollution, and drought, sprouting readily from root suckers and self-seeding so vigorously that many regions now classify it as invasive. The name derives ultimately from a Moluccan term meaning 'tree of the gods,' reflecting the lofty height the species can attain. In literature, the ailanthus is celebrated as an emblem of tenacity — most famously in Betty Smith's 1943 novel 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,' where one flourishes in a tenement yard. Gardeners and ecologists often view the word negatively because of the tree's aggressive spread, while its botanical interest endures.
nounAny of a small genus (Ailanthus) of fast-growing deciduous trees native to Asia, especially Ailanthus altissima, known as the tree of heaven, widely planted for ornament and notorious for spreading aggressively by suckers.
- A tree of the genus Ailanthus, especially Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven), an Asian deciduous tree naturalized worldwide and often considered invasive.
"An ailanthus had forced its way through a crack in the abandoned warehouse's pavement."
"The city arborist recommended removing the ailanthus before its roots damaged the sewer line."
"In Betty Smith's novel, the resilient ailanthus becomes a symbol of survival in Brooklyn's tenement neighborhoods."
The regular plural 'ailanthuses' is standard in general writing; in strict botanical nomenclature the generic name Ailanthus is treated as having the same form in singular and plural.
"Several ailanthuses lined the old railway embankment."
The ailanthus is nicknamed the 'tree of heaven' because it grows so relentlessly — even through sidewalks and building foundations — that it inspired the novel 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ailanthus
The word ailanthus comes from the Moluccan (Ambonese Malay) name ailanto, meaning 'tree of the gods' or 'tree of heaven,' referring to the great height the tree can reach. European naturalists adopted the term in the eighteenth century when the tree was introduced to Western horticulture, latinizing it into the form used for the scientific genus name. The adjective ailanthic is derived directly from it.
Related word forms
How ailanthus is actually used
Mostly encountered in botanical, horticultural, and literary contexts rather than everyday conversation. Because Ailanthus altissima is widely regarded as invasive in North America and Europe, the word often carries negative connotations among gardeners and ecologists, even though the species was once prized as an ornamental street tree.
Easily confused with ailanthus
Acanthus is a herbaceous plant of the bear's-breech family used ornamentally and in classical architecture, whereas ailanthus is a large tree; the two share a similar ending but are unrelated.