HI ALL...

Would REALLY appreciate some help with identifying this tree - I have tried MULTIPLE tree ID sites and apps to NO avail - most say it is Ash but I am sure it is not! - It does not seed and is VERY invasive. I have attached multiple photos - the tarpaulined areas have had to be dug as HUNDREDS of new shoots of this tree had grown to approximately 4 foot in 8-12 weeks. To give perspective this tree has grown 30ft in 4 years.

Where is this tree growing? You say it does not seed; are the new little trees suckers from the roots?

Hi Porkpal......

If you mean geographically - I am based in the UK, but i'm convinced this is not a native tree. It is in a bed around 100ft from my house and the roots are now spreading under the boundary fence you can see in the photo. The roots are very complex and next door report they cannot dig through them in the bed. Yes the new trees are suckers from the roots and grow immensely fast, they have also begun growing through the lawn and very quickly form strong thick stumps.

Thank you

Could it be Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
http://www.monumentaltrees.com...

Edited to day: NOT Ailanthus. I should have enlarged the thumbnail photos.

The leaves appear to be alternate rather than opposite, correct? That would rule out ash. The leaflets are also not opposite on the rachis which may help, as should the leaflet shape (not pointy at the tip in the leaflet shot although look more pointy on the tree). It doesn't match a couple of other suspects either, Ailanthus or black walnut. Does it flower?

How about Ulmus species? This is an image of leaves of Ulmus minor:
http://www.alamy.com/stock-pho...

Not Ulmus, it doesn't have pinnately compound leaves.

Could it be Pterocarya fraxinifolia, Caucasian wingnut?

https://www.google.ca/search?q...

HI All

Your help is much appreciated... To answer your questions - the trees you have named I have already come across and can confirm does not match this nightmare of a tree. The tree does not flower and the leaves appear to both be opposite and alternate depending on the growth of the branch.

I will try to post a few more pictures tomorrow.

THANK YOU

Hi Sue..

Thanks but I have already investigated that species and can confirm it is not it.... This tree does not seed or bare fruit. Also the leaves are much more matt than those of the Caucasian Wingnut!

Thank you though

miss_ee said:Hi Sue..

Thanks but I have already investigated that species and can confirm it is not it.... This tree does not seed or bare fruit. Also the leaves are much more matt than those of the Caucasian Wingnut!

Thank you though

Too bad, it's so close with the brown grey bark and suckering habit. One reference I saw said that Pterocarya fraxinifolia is allogamous in which case it wouldn't produce fruits unless there's another one nearby but if it doesn't flower either (assume it is old enough).....edited to add I found a couple of references to its not flowering in other European locations - still leaves the matt leaves problem though.

I'm just making wild guesses ... how about Sumac (Rhus) species?

Kinda looks like the locust trees we had. They grew from roots too. BUT our locusts had flowers that hung dwn in spring. My goat loved them

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) has thorns ... wonder if miss_ee's tree in question is thorned?

Miss_ee, can you check if the pith is chambered or not? Some examples here:

https://www.google.ca/search?q...

Hi All....

No thorns, grows straight upwards so no wide overhanging branches, solid pith.

Thank you

Solid pith rules out Juglans and Pterocarya, not Carya though but so far I'm not seeing any that match. Is it possible to get a reasonably sharp picture of a leaf scar?

Hi Miss_ee
@plantladylin Except for the seeds/flower this sure seems like you were right about Tree of Heaven. Penn State Extension lists every problem this tree causes which really seems very close. Sometimes on a very fast growing tree the leaves change even shape and placement branch to branch. Male trees do not produce seeds. Both male and female produce some kind of flower in spring. Pictures on different invasive web sight listings match these pictures better than NGA thumbnail. May everyone be blessed with extraordinary weekend!

I'd wondered about Ailanthus too, Sharon, but it doesn't fit. The ID tree has toothed leaflets whereas Tree of Heaven's are smooth except for the large projections at the leaflets' base, see:

https://www.google.ca/search?q...

If miss_ee or someone she knows is a member of the RHS they would likely be able to identify it if we can't come up with something:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/members...