Ailanthus triphysa occurs in India, including the Andaman Islands; Sri Lanka; Myanmar; South-Central and Southeast China; Thailand; Laos; Malaysia, including Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah; Cambodia; Vietnam; Philippines; Jawa, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Maluku in Indonesia; and Australia.

[1] In Australia, Ailanthus triphysa occurs as two isolated populations in Western Australia (at Prince Regent River and on the offshore Coronation Island, in the Kimberley), and from Cape York in Queensland and as far south as the Susan Island Nature Reserve at Clarence River (New South Wales).

On the island of Yamdena, eastern Indonesia, the tree occurs in dense dry deciduous forest, growing in the understory, taller than 4m with a DBH less than 30cm.

[6] On Coronation Island, off the coast of the Kimberley, Western Australia, the tree grows in vine thickets (monsoon rainforest pockets).

[10][11] In Cambodia, the resin is also used as incense, whereas the bark is used in local folk medicine against dysentery and intestinal œdema.

[7] The wood contains various alkaloids and quassinoids, including beta-carboline,[12] and has been used for the treatment of dyspepsia, bronchitis, ophthalmia and snake bite.

These include: halmaddi, but,[14] in India; hoëm thôm (Khmer, ="severe œdema");[7] thanh thât (Vietnam);[14] white bean, ferntop ash (Australia).