BLOOMINGTON The city of Bloomington wants one plant to stop blooming in town immediately. The plant known as Tree of Heaven is known to feed the spotted lanternfly, which is invasive and deadly for fruit and soybean crops.

Bloomington's urban forestry department has identified more than 50 Trees of Heaven on city-owned property. It is in the process of removing one in the parking lot on the corner of 4th and Dunn Streets.

The non-profit group Monroe County Identify and Reduce Invasive Species has targeted the aggressive, non-native plant since the organization was founded in 2009.

"Some people call it Tree of Hell," said MC-IRIS president Ellen Jacquart. "It can grow three to four feet a year."

MC-IRIS and Bloomington's fight against Tree of Heaven took on a new level of urgency when s

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