Dying to know what tree is this

[Joe.kl]

Hi everyone
Been super interested to know what tree is this, I hope you guys can help.

I live in the Mediterranean, however I don't think this tree is indigenous to the area.
Its a fast growing tree (tree is around 3 years old in the pictures),
Relatively large tree (grows higher than a 3 story building),
Its invasive, its seeds are spread very easily (half a dozen sprout up every year),
It doesn't flower, but its seeds/fruits form in clusters, yellowish in color, and are in an elongated tube shell.

Below are some pictures in different seasons, I hope someone can help

[PaulF]

I think that is a Chinese Sumac commonly called a Tree of Heaven or Stinktree. It is an invasive species that grows very quickly and is hard to control. Here in Nebraska it is considered a weed tree or junk tree and I spend a lot of time trying to keep my wooded area free of this pest. But then a weed is a plant you don't want and one person's weed is another person's treasure.

[Joe.kl]

Thanks PaulF.
I thought it was European ash (or some other variety of ash).. How can I tell the difference?

[rainbowgardener]

Overall ash trees are very different looking trees:


https://I.dailymail.co.uk/I/pix/2012/10/ ... 34x636.jpg

tree of heaven/ stinktree which is a weed where I am also, is a very scraggly looking tree with sparse branches, sparse twigs and leaves, lots of open space.


https://appalachianohioweeds.files.word ... 0_3258.jpg

and here is the leaf of the common ash:


https://community.highlandtitles.com/wp- ... /ash-3.jpg

here is tree of heaven:


https://bloomington.in.gov/media/media/I ... m/3301.jpg

In an ash tree, the compound leaves are 8 to 12 inches long, with 5 to 9 leaflets per leaf. They may be finely toothed
or have smooth edges. The tree of heaven compound leaves are much larger,1-4 ft. long, with 11-25 smaller leaflets, each with one to several glandular teeth near the base.

[Joe.kl]

rainbowgardener thanks a lot! you guys are right!
It was remarkable to see how fast this thing was growing! but I think I should take it down before it gets out of hand..

Any advise on large and fast growing seasonal trees for the Mediterranean climate.

[rainbowgardener]

It would help to know where you are a little more specifically, because best is to grow trees that are native to your area. Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Israel, Morocco, Egypt?

But in the meantime when I think that kind of climate I think of Pacific madrone. It is a tall and wide spreading tree, height 50- 80 feet (15-24 m.) , spread 15-75 feet (4 - 20 m.). It is a drought tolerant evergreen with glossy foliage, large clusters of small white flowers, orange-red fruits, and very showy, reddish, peeling bark. It is in the genus Arbutus, so even if you don't have madrone, you probably have other arbutus species, since they are native to warm temperate regions of the Mediterranean, western Europe, and North America. Old world arbutus includes strawberry tree, pampan, canary madrone.

What did you mean by a "seasonal" tree? Deciduous?

[Joe.kl]

Thanks rainbowgardener
Yes I mean Deciduous. I live in the mountain areas in Lebanon.

[rainbowgardener]

Oh wow... Not deciduous of course, but I think your most famous native tree is the Cedar of Lebanon. But not what you are looking for because difficult to start and very slow growing. There are major reforestation projects going on in Lebanon. This:

https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/9948

has a free downloadable booklet on the trees of Lebanon.

This reforestation project: https://desertification.wordpress.com/2 ... n-prophet/ is planting carob and almond trees along with cedars.

Olive and fig trees are also native there, but probably not for the mountain areas. Species that reside in higher altitudes include cedar, maple, juniper, fir, cypress, valonia oak, and Aleppo pine forest.

I am half way around the world from you and know very little about your trees, climate, etc. I think your best bet would be to check with some local groups/ nurseries for what would grow best and suit your purposes best.

[Joe.kl]

Cedar is a very slow growing tree, I had 2 cedars planted 2 years ago, and they barely grew 20cm in these 2 years!
You can actually see a 90+ year old almond tree. Another 2 cypress, a holm oak, pine, a couple of pomegranate trees, fig and a mulberry tree. All are around 75+ old planted by my grandpa.
However I'm currently looking for a deciduous tree thats a fast grower so it would provide shade for a balcony in the summer time. I might just go with a maple tree after all.

[A Happy Seedling]

I live in Virginia (US), so I don't know about maples in your area, but here, they grow everywhere and are impossible to kill unless you cut down, however they're not shade trees so you have to prune one if you want shade.