Tree of Heaven, a high priority noxious weed, was discovered for the first time in Dakota County in 2025. Host Jennifer Burington talks with MDA weed scientist Tony Cortilet and Loni Anderson of the Minnesota Department of Transportation about its accidental discovery, the team effort happening to eradicate the problem, and how you can be on the look out for tree of heaven and other noxious weed in Minnesota on this episode of Smarty Plants. 

Smarty Plants is a podcast of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/smarty-plants for more episodes. Look for a new episode of Smarty Plants every month.