Definitely. Where I like ailanthus is in an urban alleyway where
absolutely no other tree species is capable of growing. Without them
there would be no leafy canopy for some neighborhoods. Same with the
pesky invasive norway maple, if all of the norway maple was removed in
Boston we'd probably lose more than half the urban tree canopy.
The other place I like ailanthus is on Block Island off of Rhode Island.
It's is completely naturalized and is not behaving like an invasive, the
harsh winter winds hold it in check, it has to fight it out with the
quercus robur, castanea mollissima and the native species, they're all
on equal footing in this harsh tree habitat.
Invasive species have no place in natural forests, if it can be helped.
-AJ
Gaines McMartin wrote:
AJ:
You like Ailanthus? Do you know that Ailanthus is alelopathic--it
releases a toxin that kills other trees. Have you ever seen an oak or
maple seedling grow up where there are lots of ailanthusB The tree
itself is, after all, a tree, and I love trees. but to have areas
with ailanthus to the exclusion of other trees--that's a problem.
--Gaines
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