Tree of heaven volunteer

I have very mixed feelings about invasive species. I’m an invasive species! Apple trees were originally only found in Central Asia, but you wouldn’t think twice about planting an apple tree. I’m a volunteer for NYNJ Trail Conference. My main role is trail maintenance but also clearing invasive, mostly Japanese Barberry.

This morning I was clearing some ‘weeds’ and stumbled across a volunteer Tree of heaven. It’s near the boundary of my property and somewhere where I plan on growing trees. A short distance over the fence is a tree of heaven, in my neighbour’s garden who shares the boundary.

Tree of heaven is targeted by NYNJTC and when we find them near trails we remove them. They grow very fast, produce masses of seeds and suckers. The advantage is, it’s great for bees, grows fast, produces lots of chop and drop material.

So I’m conflicted . . .

Ailanthus altissima secretes allelopathic chemicals to prevent competition from other plants, spreads like kudzu, chokes everything in it's path, and is the host plant for the invasive spotted lanternfly/Lycorma delicatula (which is a horror in the numbers I am seeing in my area). I'd pull that thing up in a hot minute.

Why not transplant that Tree of Heaven volunteer into a pot?

Would it grow I don't know?  Is it sucker? Can it grow in a pot because it will get big?

One of the links below offers a solution, mushrooms!

I don't know anything about the tree as I am not sure if I have even seen one.

I am interested in the benefits of owning one or at least using it for its medicinal value.

Here are some threads you or others might enjoy:

https://permies.com/t/178660/kitchen/Medicinal-Trees-Ailanthus-altissima-Tree

https://permies.com/t/47973/Tree-Heaven-permaculture

Scott said, "These are live trees he inoculates killing the tree and getting edible shrooms!

Take Bob Marley’s advice and “kill it before it grow”!

Before Permies, I wouldn’t have thought twice - evil invasive!

Now I think about everything from as many angles as possible.

Spotted Lantern Fly (SLF) hasn’t made it here yet, but it’s only a matter of time. If I have a fruit forest full of lovely food for SLF, then the tree of heaven would be an easy place to find and kill. Every time I’m working out side I find Chinese Praying Mantis that are a natural enemy of SLF . . .

However, I’m not keen on it’s chemical attacks on other plants, kinda the opposite of guilding.

Thanks for the info and links Anne. That’s why I didn’t just jump in and chop it down. I’m moving away from containers, just too much maintenance and the kind I don’t enjoy. I’m going for a garden with minimum hands on stuff . . . Plants need to thrive on their own once I’m done with the foundation work.

Given an infinite amount of space, keeping it for the uses you suggest would make sense. However is it a tree that you would have chosen to have? I think you will find that other plants will give you biomass and beefood without the drawbacks of this tree. Chances are it won't be the last volunteer that your neighbour's tree will provide, so if you change your mind another will come along soon anyhow.....