This magnificent specimen is certainly living up to its common moniker, tree of heaven, producing lime-green sherbert fountains of papery samara seedcases against dark green compound leaves on a muscular frame.
However the translation of its standard Chinese name is ‘foul-smelling tree’ and hints at its less savoury attributes. Ailanthus altissima is an opportunistic colonizer of disturbed ground and is classed as invasive – to which the thickets of tree of heaven seedlings under the Hills Road bridge bear witness.