Knowledge on the ecology of tree species in both their native and introduced range can increase the understanding of their successful establishment and spread outside the native range. Here, we analysed radial growth patterns of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle in two sites in its native range in eastern China and in two sites in the introduced range in southern Switzerland, where it started to disperse into forests in the 1950s. Growth rates were similar despite lower amounts of growing season precipitation in China. Furthermore, we found negative correlations between annual radial growth and average temperatures in the growing season at the warmest of the four sites, which suggest that radial growth of A. altissima starts to be limited by average growing season temperatures above 21 °C. Regarding wood anatomy, we did not find clear correlations between vessel lumen area and monthly temperature or precipitation at the time of tissue formation in spring. Overall, our results demonstrate that A. altissima has the potential to grow in drier conditions than currently found in Switzerland, which is in line with previous studies.