Name this tree/weed?

[Mike Lamb]

These trees grow in alleys all over Chicagoland and if left alone become gargantuan menaces to fences and garages. They can grow six or 8 feet in just one summer.

Does anyone know the name of these things?

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[Jerry Simon]

These trees grow in alleys all over Chicagoland and if left alone become gargantuan menaces to fences and garages. They can grow six or 8 feet in just one summer.

Does anyone know the name of these things?

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Be-leaf it or not, I was told those are actually some sort of weed.

[Mark P]

I think they are called " Tree of Heaven" they gow like weeds along fence lines and other places lawnmowers don't get to well. They are a real pain.

[rkenney]

Hard to identify a tree without seeing the foliage.

Do the leaves look like this:

Mimosa - big problem around here, grows anywhere like a weed self rooting. Category II Invasive

[Mike Lamb]

Hard to identify a tree without seeing the foliage.

Do the leaves look like this:

Mimosa - big problem around here, grows anywhere like a weed self rooting. Category II Invasive

No. That's not it. I do believe it is a big ass weed tho.

I hope to have leaves around here in a few weeks. Chicago won't shake off the winter yet.

[John Kogel]

Poplar Elderberry.

Box Elder has rough bark, Les. Google 'Elderberry bark', looks like a possible match.

We have elderberry here that grows like stink. The blue berries are good for wine, so they say. The Red berries are good for nothing. They are both females. []

[Les]

sure looks like a box elder to me. Wait until it has leaves then you can be sure, There is a female type and a male type; one is larger and smarter than the other!

[Jerry Simon]

Poplar Elderberry.

Box Elder has rough bark, Les. Google 'Elderberry bark', looks like a possible match.

We have elderberry here that grows like stink. The blue berries are good for wine, so they say. The Red berries are good for nothing. They are both females. []

Those aren't elderberry. I have a close, evil relationship with such, and would know one from a mile away.

[Tom Raymond]

Agreed. I have an elderberry in my yard and it looks nothing like Lambs tree.

I haven't had elderberry wine in ages. My shrub throws just enough berries for a pie, if I get to 'em before the birds do.

[gtblum]

Because of where it is and the type of bark, my guess would be a sumac.

[Jim Baird]

Looks like Ailanthus sp. or Pawlonia sp. to me. Lots of weed type trees. Chinaberry (don't have the genus for that one) maybe.

[Scottpat]

I was going to say a Chinaberry or Cottonwood tree, aka Trashish treeis sp.

Some locus trees have bark like that also.

[Chad Fabry]

Alder

[kurt]

No, Mulberry.

They're weed trees. Some squirrel or rat shit out a seed along the fence, they grow. Yes, 8' of sucker growth in a year is not unheard of.

I've cut those things down to flush stumps, and they grow back as bushes. I've put 50 lbs. of rock salt on the stump, and they grow through the salt.

Hack it down to nothing, and poison it. It's the only thing that kills it.

[Scottpat]

Well it obvious that none of us are moonlighting as Arborist!

[Bill Kibbel]

Not mature enough to be 100% positive, but it's probably the White Mulberry. Unlike the native Red Mulberry, it's considered an invasive species.

I did some research on a silk mill building and read about the introduction of the Red Mulberry. It was brought from China when there were major efforts to establish silk industries in this area in the late 18th century.

Seeds are spread quickly by many types of critters and it grows very rapidly. It has spread to all Continental States. Like Mike's description, they grow like weeds even after becoming a tree.

[John Kogel]

Not mature enough to be 100% positive, but it's probably the White Mulberry.

Bill, I haven't thought of you being immature, but if you say so ... []

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63.58 KBThis mulberry bark looks rough, but if you look closer, there are the horizontal scars, alright. Kurt got it, hands on experience with the young shoots.

I had the berry part so I was half right. I danced around the mulberry bush a few times when I was a kid, but don't recall ever seeing one.

[Les]

I'm sticking with Pawlina or box elder. The leaves will tell. If I'm wrong, then I thought it was a red mullberry tree.

[kurt]

Nah, it's a mulberry. They're everywhere in Chicago. Morus alba.

If you have an iPad, get LeafsnapHD. It's an amazingly cool tree identification app.

[allseason]

Tree of Heaven: Alanthus altisima

[allseason]

Upon closer examination I believe Kurt is right. Mullberry. Alanthus has a smooth bark.