What is the greenest tree?

Slate.com recently tried to answer the question: What is the greenest tree? A reader wanted to know which trees they should plant to soak up the most greenhouse gases. Check out what the author recommended.

-- Sarah

Comments

[Suzy]

One good urban and quick growing tree to absorb lots of pollution is the Tree Of Heaven, or Ailanthus.

The famed tree that was in the "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" . It does provide a good amount of shading when larger in size and will even tolerate interstate plantings/pollution.

Ailanthus is among the most tolerant of all tree species to pollution, including sulfur dioxide, which it absorbs in its leaves. It can withstand cement dust and fumes from coal tar operations, as well as resist ozone exposure relatively well. Furthermore, high concentrations of mercury have been found built up in tissues of the plant.

Ailanthus has been used to re-vegetate areas where acid mine drainage has occurred and it has been show to tolerate pH levels as low as 4.1. It can withstand very low phophorus levels and high salinity levels. The drought-tolerance of the tree is strong due to its ability to effectively store water in its root system.

It is frequently found along highways and railroad tracks, in abandoned lots in cities, on abandoned mining sites, and in other areas where few trees can survive.

The roots can be aggressive, and this tree may be considered a pest tree in some areas if left to propagate without control. If cut or handled roughly, the tree has an unpleasent odor likened to bad peanut butter or cashew butter.

The uses for this tree are many- shade and specimen plant, lumber, medicinal in the chinese traditional medicines, feeds the moth that spins "Shantung Silk".

It also can be very drought tolerant.