Residents of Robertson should be on the lookout for an invasive tree species currently growing in the area.
Hemelboom or Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), as it is commonly referred to, has been growing profusely in Robertson.
Vivian Kuiper, a concerned resident in Robertson, first noticed the invasive species a few years ago.
Gazette drove with him to a few spots where the plant was growing.
“I am not an environmentalist, but I am concerned because this plant is not good for the environment,” he said. “It was growing in my back yard and I had a huge battle on my hands trying to get the roots out.”
Kuiper said the plant has a terrible smell when crushed.
A person living opposite the open plot where the tree grows says he also had the same problem.
“I’ve got two in my yard,” he says. “One was here in front of my fence and I threw swimming pool acid on it as well as the one coming out at the back near my drain.”
Kuiper says he has informed some of the people about the tree as well as the Langeberg Municipality.
According to the website Invasive SA, the fast growing tree from China can grow up to 20 m high.
“It has smooth stems with pale grey bark, and twigs which are light chestnut brown, especially in the dormant season. In late spring, clusters of small, yellow-green flowers appear near the tips of branches,” states the website.
“Seeds are produced on female trees in late summer to early autumn. Fruits are papery, somewhat twisted, winged structures called samaras that are tan to pink-coloured.”
The tree is a problem in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, KZN, Mpumalanga and Gauteng. It competes with and has the potential to replace indigenous species.
A few years ago the City of Cape Town urged residents to be on the lookout for an invasive species of tree emanating from mainland China, known as the “tree of heaven.”
Johan van der Merwe, the then Mayoral Committee Member for Energy, Environmental and Spatial Planning for the City of Cape Town, said the invasive tree was causing extensive ecological and infrastructural damage.
He said the tree’s “rapid growth and aggressive root system” posed a threat to urban infrastructure, and that it produced a chemical known as ailanthone that prevented the growth of other plant species.
“Furthermore, physical contact with this tree, particularly with the leaves, can lead to skin irritation and, if left untreated, can cause severe itchiness and a persistent rash that is pain and discomfort,” said Van der Merwe.
Residents who have the tree in their yard or have seen it in the area should notify the municipality’s parks and recreation department.
