diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/src/migrations/utils.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/src/migrations/utils.ts
index 219c2ab474f19..a305986de0772 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/src/migrations/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/src/migrations/utils.ts
@@ -37,20 +37,14 @@ export function createDirectiveDecorator(clazz: ClassDeclaration): Decorator {
     // TODO: At the moment ngtsc does not accept a directive with no selector
     ts.createPropertyAssignment('selector', ts.createStringLiteral('NGCC_DUMMY')),
   ]);
-  const decoratorType = ts.createIdentifier('Directive');
-  const decoratorNode = ts.createObjectLiteral([
-    ts.createPropertyAssignment('type', decoratorType),
-    ts.createPropertyAssignment('args', ts.createArrayLiteral([selectorArg])),
-  ]);
-
-  setParentPointers(clazz.getSourceFile(), decoratorNode);
 
   return {
     name: 'Directive',
-    identifier: decoratorType,
+    identifier: null,
     import: {name: 'Directive', from: '@angular/core'},
-    node: decoratorNode,
-    args: [selectorArg],
+    node: null,
+    synthesizedFor: clazz.name,
+    args: [reifySourceFile(selectorArg)],
   };
 }
 
@@ -58,27 +52,33 @@ export function createDirectiveDecorator(clazz: ClassDeclaration): Decorator {
  * Create an empty `Injectable` decorator that will be associated with the `clazz`.
  */
 export function createInjectableDecorator(clazz: ClassDeclaration): Decorator {
-  const decoratorType = ts.createIdentifier('Injectable');
-  const decoratorNode = ts.createObjectLiteral([
-    ts.createPropertyAssignment('type', decoratorType),
-    ts.createPropertyAssignment('args', ts.createArrayLiteral([])),
-  ]);
-
-  setParentPointers(clazz.getSourceFile(), decoratorNode);
-
   return {
     name: 'Injectable',
-    identifier: decoratorType,
+    identifier: null,
     import: {name: 'Injectable', from: '@angular/core'},
-    node: decoratorNode,
+    node: null,
+    synthesizedFor: clazz.name,
     args: [],
   };
 }
 
+const EMPTY_SF = ts.createSourceFile('(empty)', '', ts.ScriptTarget.Latest);
+
 /**
- * Ensure that a tree of AST nodes have their parents wired up.
+ * Takes a `ts.Expression` and returns the same `ts.Expression`, but with an associated
+ * `ts.SourceFile`.
+ *
+ * This transformation is necessary to use synthetic `ts.Expression`s with the `PartialEvaluator`,
+ * and many decorator arguments are interpreted in this way.
  */
-export function setParentPointers(parent: ts.Node, child: ts.Node): void {
-  child.parent = parent;
-  ts.forEachChild(child, grandchild => setParentPointers(child, grandchild));
+function reifySourceFile(expr: ts.Expression): ts.Expression {
+  const printer = ts.createPrinter();
+  const exprText = printer.printNode(ts.EmitHint.Unspecified, expr, EMPTY_SF);
+  const sf = ts.createSourceFile(
+      '(synthetic)', `const expr = ${exprText};`, ts.ScriptTarget.Latest, true, ts.ScriptKind.JS);
+  const stmt = sf.statements[0];
+  if (!ts.isVariableStatement(stmt)) {
+    throw new Error(`Expected VariableStatement, got ${ts.SyntaxKind[stmt.kind]}`);
+  }
+  return stmt.declarationList.declarations[0].initializer !;
 }
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/src/rendering/renderer.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/src/rendering/renderer.ts
index 958ec67588a62..171c1ec27eba9 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/src/rendering/renderer.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/src/rendering/renderer.ts
@@ -130,6 +130,9 @@ export class Renderer {
       }
 
       clazz.decorators.forEach(dec => {
+        if (dec.node === null) {
+          return;
+        }
         const decoratorArray = dec.node.parent !;
         if (!decoratorsToRemove.has(decoratorArray)) {
           decoratorsToRemove.set(decoratorArray, [dec.node]);
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/commonjs_host_import_helper_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/commonjs_host_import_helper_spec.ts
index 8163a753110f3..b9bce75af33b0 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/commonjs_host_import_helper_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/commonjs_host_import_helper_spec.ts
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ exports.OtherDirective = OtherDirective;
 
         const decorator = decorators[0];
         expect(decorator.name).toEqual('Directive');
-        expect(decorator.identifier.getText()).toEqual('core.Directive');
+        expect(decorator.identifier !.getText()).toEqual('core.Directive');
         expect(decorator.import).toEqual({name: 'Directive', from: '@angular/core'});
         expect(decorator.args !.map(arg => arg.getText())).toEqual([
           '{ selector: \'[someDirective]\' }',
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/esm2015_host_import_helper_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/esm2015_host_import_helper_spec.ts
index 2b22192e88455..3b617a2d9f414 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/esm2015_host_import_helper_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/esm2015_host_import_helper_spec.ts
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
 
             const decorator = decorators[0];
             expect(decorator.name).toEqual('Directive');
-            expect(decorator.identifier.getText()).toEqual('Directive');
+            expect(decorator.identifier !.getText()).toEqual('Directive');
             expect(decorator.import).toEqual({name: 'Directive', from: '@angular/core'});
             expect(decorator.args !.map(arg => arg.getText())).toEqual([
               '{ selector: \'[someDirective]\' }',
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
 
                const decorator = decorators[0];
                expect(decorator.name).toEqual('Directive');
-               expect(decorator.identifier.getText()).toEqual('Directive');
+               expect(decorator.identifier !.getText()).toEqual('Directive');
                expect(decorator.import).toEqual({name: 'Directive', from: '@angular/core'});
                expect(decorator.args !.map(arg => arg.getText())).toEqual([
                  '{ selector: \'[someDirective]\' }',
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
 
             const decorator = decorators[0];
             expect(decorator.name).toEqual('Directive');
-            expect(decorator.identifier.getText()).toEqual('Directive');
+            expect(decorator.identifier !.getText()).toEqual('Directive');
             expect(decorator.import).toEqual({name: 'Directive', from: './directives'});
             expect(decorator.args !.map(arg => arg.getText())).toEqual([
               '{ selector: \'[someDirective]\' }',
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
             const classNode = getDeclaration(
                 program, _('/some_directive.js'), 'SomeDirective', isNamedVariableDeclaration);
             const classDecorators = host.getDecoratorsOfDeclaration(classNode) !;
-            const decoratorNode = classDecorators[0].node;
+            const decoratorNode = classDecorators[0].node !;
             const identifierOfDirective =
                 ts.isCallExpression(decoratorNode) && ts.isIdentifier(decoratorNode.expression) ?
                 decoratorNode.expression :
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/esm5_host_import_helper_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/esm5_host_import_helper_spec.ts
index b467be4e19704..a2769b93e844f 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/esm5_host_import_helper_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/esm5_host_import_helper_spec.ts
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ export { SomeDirective };
 
             const decorator = decorators[0];
             expect(decorator.name).toEqual('Directive');
-            expect(decorator.identifier.getText()).toEqual('Directive');
+            expect(decorator.identifier !.getText()).toEqual('Directive');
             expect(decorator.import).toEqual({name: 'Directive', from: '@angular/core'});
             expect(decorator.args !.map(arg => arg.getText())).toEqual([
               '{ selector: \'[someDirective]\' }',
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ export { SomeDirective };
 
                const decorator = decorators[0];
                expect(decorator.name).toEqual('Directive');
-               expect(decorator.identifier.getText()).toEqual('Directive');
+               expect(decorator.identifier !.getText()).toEqual('Directive');
                expect(decorator.import).toEqual({name: 'Directive', from: '@angular/core'});
                expect(decorator.args !.map(arg => arg.getText())).toEqual([
                  '{ selector: \'[someDirective]\' }',
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ export { SomeDirective };
 
             const decorator = decorators[0];
             expect(decorator.name).toEqual('Directive');
-            expect(decorator.identifier.getText()).toEqual('Directive');
+            expect(decorator.identifier !.getText()).toEqual('Directive');
             expect(decorator.import).toEqual({name: 'Directive', from: './directives'});
             expect(decorator.args !.map(arg => arg.getText())).toEqual([
               '{ selector: \'[someDirective]\' }',
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ export { SomeDirective };
             const classNode = getDeclaration(
                 program, _('/some_directive.js'), 'SomeDirective', isNamedVariableDeclaration);
             const classDecorators = host.getDecoratorsOfDeclaration(classNode) !;
-            const decoratorNode = classDecorators[0].node;
+            const decoratorNode = classDecorators[0].node !;
 
             const identifierOfDirective =
                 ts.isCallExpression(decoratorNode) && ts.isIdentifier(decoratorNode.expression) ?
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/umd_host_import_helper_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/umd_host_import_helper_spec.ts
index 0896665b0c43d..1cd4ee7a27803 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/umd_host_import_helper_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/host/umd_host_import_helper_spec.ts
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ runInEachFileSystem(() => {
 
         const decorator = decorators[0];
         expect(decorator.name).toEqual('Directive');
-        expect(decorator.identifier.getText()).toEqual('core.Directive');
+        expect(decorator.identifier !.getText()).toEqual('core.Directive');
         expect(decorator.import).toEqual({name: 'Directive', from: '@angular/core'});
         expect(decorator.args !.map(arg => arg.getText())).toEqual([
           '{ selector: \'[someDirective]\' }',
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/commonjs_rendering_formatter_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/commonjs_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
index 6564513056537..14ddeeefdc328 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/commonjs_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/commonjs_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'A') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators ![0];
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString())
                .not.toContain(`{ type: core.Directive, args: [{ selector: '[a]' }] },`);
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'B') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators ![0];
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString())
                .toContain(`{ type: core.Directive, args: [{ selector: '[a]' }] },`);
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'C') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators ![0];
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            renderer.addDefinitions(output, compiledClass, 'SOME DEFINITION TEXT');
            expect(output.toString())
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'A') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators !.find(d => d.name === 'Directive') !;
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString()).not.toContain(`Directive({ selector: '[a]' }),`);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`OtherA()`);
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'B') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators !.find(d => d.name === 'Directive') !;
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`Directive({ selector: '[a]' }),`);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`OtherA()`);
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'C') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators !.find(d => d.name === 'Directive') !;
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`Directive({ selector: '[a]' }),`);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`OtherA()`);
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/esm5_rendering_formatter_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/esm5_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
index 387b5197d4b9c..1b7b64ee4d39a 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/esm5_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/esm5_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'A') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators ![0];
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString())
                .not.toContain(`{ type: Directive, args: [{ selector: '[a]' }] },`);
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'B') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators ![0];
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`{ type: Directive, args: [{ selector: '[a]' }] },`);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`{ type: OtherA }`);
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'C') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators ![0];
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            renderer.addDefinitions(output, compiledClass, 'SOME DEFINITION TEXT');
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`{ type: Directive, args: [{ selector: '[a]' }] },`);
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'A') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators !.find(d => d.name === 'Directive') !;
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString()).not.toContain(`Directive({ selector: '[a]' }),`);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`OtherA()`);
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'B') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators !.find(d => d.name === 'Directive') !;
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`Directive({ selector: '[a]' }),`);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`OtherA()`);
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'C') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators !.find(d => d.name === 'Directive') !;
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`Directive({ selector: '[a]' }),`);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`OtherA()`);
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/esm_rendering_formatter_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/esm_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
index bda5e1da02ad1..7dbb778cf05f8 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/esm_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/esm_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ A.decorators = [
                  decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'A') !;
              const decorator = compiledClass.decorators ![0];
              const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-             decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+             decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
              renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
              expect(output.toString())
                  .not.toContain(`{ type: Directive, args: [{ selector: '[a]' }] },`);
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ A.decorators = [
                  decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'B') !;
              const decorator = compiledClass.decorators ![0];
              const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-             decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+             decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
              renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
              expect(output.toString())
                  .toContain(`{ type: Directive, args: [{ selector: '[a]' }] },`);
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ A.decorators = [
               decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'A') !;
           const decorator = compiledClass.decorators ![0];
           const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-          decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+          decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
           renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
           // The decorator should have been removed correctly.
           expect(output.toString()).toContain('A.decorators = [ { type: OtherA }');
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ A.decorators = [
                  decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'C') !;
              const decorator = compiledClass.decorators ![0];
              const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-             decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+             decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
              renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
              expect(output.toString())
                  .toContain(`{ type: Directive, args: [{ selector: '[a]' }] },`);
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ export { D };
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'A') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators !.find(d => d.name === 'Directive') !;
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString()).not.toContain(`Directive({ selector: '[a]' }),`);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`OtherA()`);
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ export { D };
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'B') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators !.find(d => d.name === 'Directive') !;
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`Directive({ selector: '[a]' }),`);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`OtherA()`);
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ export { D };
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'C') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators !.find(d => d.name === 'Directive') !;
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`Directive({ selector: '[a]' }),`);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`OtherA()`);
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/umd_rendering_formatter_spec.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/umd_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
index c67c5d5d7f735..1a5158dd05ba2 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/umd_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/ngcc/test/rendering/umd_rendering_formatter_spec.ts
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'A') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators ![0];
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString())
                .not.toContain(`{ type: core.Directive, args: [{ selector: '[a]' }] },`);
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'B') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators ![0];
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString())
                .toContain(`{ type: core.Directive, args: [{ selector: '[a]' }] },`);
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'C') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators ![0];
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            renderer.addDefinitions(output, compiledClass, 'SOME DEFINITION TEXT');
            expect(output.toString())
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'A') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators !.find(d => d.name === 'Directive') !;
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString()).not.toContain(`core.Directive({ selector: '[a]' }),`);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`OtherA()`);
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'B') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators !.find(d => d.name === 'Directive') !;
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`core.Directive({ selector: '[a]' }),`);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`OtherA()`);
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ SOME DEFINITION TEXT
                decorationAnalyses.get(sourceFile) !.compiledClasses.find(c => c.name === 'C') !;
            const decorator = compiledClass.decorators !.find(d => d.name === 'Directive') !;
            const decoratorsToRemove = new Map<ts.Node, ts.Node[]>();
-           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node.parent !, [decorator.node]);
+           decoratorsToRemove.set(decorator.node !.parent !, [decorator.node !]);
            renderer.removeDecorators(output, decoratorsToRemove);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`core.Directive({ selector: '[a]' }),`);
            expect(output.toString()).toContain(`OtherA()`);
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/component.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/component.ts
index 4578da8b48e02..23cbe879228ab 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/component.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/component.ts
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ export class ComponentDecoratorHandler implements
     }
     if (decorator.args === null || decorator.args.length !== 1) {
       throw new FatalDiagnosticError(
-          ErrorCode.DECORATOR_ARITY_WRONG, decorator.node,
+          ErrorCode.DECORATOR_ARITY_WRONG, Decorator.nodeForError(decorator),
           `Incorrect number of arguments to @Component decorator`);
     }
     const meta = unwrapExpression(decorator.args[0]);
@@ -624,7 +624,8 @@ export class ComponentDecoratorHandler implements
   } {
     if (!component.has('template')) {
       throw new FatalDiagnosticError(
-          ErrorCode.COMPONENT_MISSING_TEMPLATE, decorator.node, 'component is missing a template');
+          ErrorCode.COMPONENT_MISSING_TEMPLATE, Decorator.nodeForError(decorator),
+          'component is missing a template');
     }
     const templateExpr = component.get('template') !;
 
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/directive.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/directive.ts
index d4cd46cabdffb..47be27966cd4a 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/directive.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/directive.ts
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ export function extractDirectiveMetadata(
     directive = new Map<string, ts.Expression>();
   } else if (decorator.args.length !== 1) {
     throw new FatalDiagnosticError(
-        ErrorCode.DECORATOR_ARITY_WRONG, decorator.node,
+        ErrorCode.DECORATOR_ARITY_WRONG, Decorator.nodeForError(decorator),
         `Incorrect number of arguments to @${decorator.name} decorator`);
   } else {
     const meta = unwrapExpression(decorator.args[0]);
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ export function queriesFromFields(
     evaluator: PartialEvaluator): R3QueryMetadata[] {
   return fields.map(({member, decorators}) => {
     const decorator = decorators[0];
-    const node = member.node || decorator.node;
+    const node = member.node || Decorator.nodeForError(decorator);
 
     // Throw in case of `@Input() @ContentChild('foo') foo: any`, which is not supported in Ivy
     if (member.decorators !.some(v => v.name === 'Input')) {
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ export function queriesFromFields(
           'Query decorator must go on a property-type member');
     }
     return extractQueryMetadata(
-        decorator.node, decorator.name, decorator.args || [], member.name, reflector, evaluator);
+        node, decorator.name, decorator.args || [], member.name, reflector, evaluator);
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/injectable.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/injectable.ts
index b2b6a4d58330f..c1ca25603b266 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/injectable.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/injectable.ts
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@ function extractInjectableMetadata(
   const typeArgumentCount = reflector.getGenericArityOfClass(clazz) || 0;
   if (decorator.args === null) {
     throw new FatalDiagnosticError(
-        ErrorCode.DECORATOR_NOT_CALLED, decorator.node, '@Injectable must be called');
+        ErrorCode.DECORATOR_NOT_CALLED, Decorator.nodeForError(decorator),
+        '@Injectable must be called');
   }
   if (decorator.args.length === 0) {
     return {
@@ -202,7 +203,8 @@ function extractInjectableCtorDeps(
     strictCtorDeps: boolean) {
   if (decorator.args === null) {
     throw new FatalDiagnosticError(
-        ErrorCode.DECORATOR_NOT_CALLED, decorator.node, '@Injectable must be called');
+        ErrorCode.DECORATOR_NOT_CALLED, Decorator.nodeForError(decorator),
+        '@Injectable must be called');
   }
 
   let ctorDeps: R3DependencyMetadata[]|'invalid'|null = null;
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/metadata.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/metadata.ts
index 595a9957cf675..4c82fec50639b 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/metadata.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/metadata.ts
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@ function classMemberToMetadata(
  * Convert a reflected decorator to metadata.
  */
 function decoratorToMetadata(decorator: Decorator): ts.ObjectLiteralExpression {
+  if (decorator.identifier === null) {
+    throw new Error('Illegal state: synthesized decorator cannot be emitted in class metadata.');
+  }
   // Decorators have a type.
   const properties: ts.ObjectLiteralElementLike[] = [
     ts.createPropertyAssignment('type', ts.getMutableClone(decorator.identifier)),
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/ng_module.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/ng_module.ts
index c40d354581d81..e8e3f48af0a41 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/ng_module.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/ng_module.ts
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export class NgModuleDecoratorHandler implements DecoratorHandler<NgModuleAnalys
     const name = node.name.text;
     if (decorator.args === null || decorator.args.length > 1) {
       throw new FatalDiagnosticError(
-          ErrorCode.DECORATOR_ARITY_WRONG, decorator.node,
+          ErrorCode.DECORATOR_ARITY_WRONG, Decorator.nodeForError(decorator),
           `Incorrect number of arguments to @NgModule decorator`);
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/pipe.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/pipe.ts
index d8668b439a29f..0857548a99850 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/pipe.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/pipe.ts
@@ -53,11 +53,13 @@ export class PipeDecoratorHandler implements DecoratorHandler<PipeHandlerData, D
     const type = new WrappedNodeExpr(clazz.name);
     if (decorator.args === null) {
       throw new FatalDiagnosticError(
-          ErrorCode.DECORATOR_NOT_CALLED, decorator.node, `@Pipe must be called`);
+          ErrorCode.DECORATOR_NOT_CALLED, Decorator.nodeForError(decorator),
+          `@Pipe must be called`);
     }
     if (decorator.args.length !== 1) {
       throw new FatalDiagnosticError(
-          ErrorCode.DECORATOR_ARITY_WRONG, decorator.node, '@Pipe must have exactly one argument');
+          ErrorCode.DECORATOR_ARITY_WRONG, Decorator.nodeForError(decorator),
+          '@Pipe must have exactly one argument');
     }
     const meta = unwrapExpression(decorator.args[0]);
     if (!ts.isObjectLiteralExpression(meta)) {
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/util.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/util.ts
index 061538260764e..466ba9b7bd903 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/util.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/annotations/src/util.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ export function getConstructorDependencies(
       if (name === 'Inject') {
         if (dec.args === null || dec.args.length !== 1) {
           throw new FatalDiagnosticError(
-              ErrorCode.DECORATOR_ARITY_WRONG, dec.node,
+              ErrorCode.DECORATOR_ARITY_WRONG, Decorator.nodeForError(dec),
               `Unexpected number of arguments to @Inject().`);
         }
         token = new WrappedNodeExpr(dec.args[0]);
@@ -70,14 +70,15 @@ export function getConstructorDependencies(
       } else if (name === 'Attribute') {
         if (dec.args === null || dec.args.length !== 1) {
           throw new FatalDiagnosticError(
-              ErrorCode.DECORATOR_ARITY_WRONG, dec.node,
+              ErrorCode.DECORATOR_ARITY_WRONG, Decorator.nodeForError(dec),
               `Unexpected number of arguments to @Attribute().`);
         }
         token = new WrappedNodeExpr(dec.args[0]);
         resolved = R3ResolvedDependencyType.Attribute;
       } else {
         throw new FatalDiagnosticError(
-            ErrorCode.DECORATOR_UNEXPECTED, dec.node, `Unexpected decorator ${name} on parameter.`);
+            ErrorCode.DECORATOR_UNEXPECTED, Decorator.nodeForError(dec),
+            `Unexpected decorator ${name} on parameter.`);
       }
     });
 
diff --git a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/reflection/src/host.ts b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/reflection/src/host.ts
index 8593dfd7c1af4..a55f0a20f5000 100644
--- a/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/reflection/src/host.ts
+++ b/packages/compiler-cli/src/ngtsc/reflection/src/host.ts
@@ -9,9 +9,12 @@
 import * as ts from 'typescript';
 
 /**
- * Metadata extracted from an instance of a decorator on another declaration.
+ * Metadata extracted from an instance of a decorator on another declaration, or synthesized from
+ * other information about a class.
  */
-export interface Decorator {
+export type Decorator = ConcreteDecorator | SyntheticDecorator;
+
+export interface BaseDecorator {
   /**
    * Name by which the decorator was invoked in the user's code.
    *
@@ -23,7 +26,7 @@ export interface Decorator {
   /**
    * Identifier which refers to the decorator in the user's code.
    */
-  identifier: DecoratorIdentifier;
+  identifier: DecoratorIdentifier|null;
 
   /**
    * `Import` by which the decorator was brought into the module in which it was invoked, or `null`
@@ -32,16 +35,54 @@ export interface Decorator {
   import : Import | null;
 
   /**
-   * TypeScript reference to the decorator itself.
+   * TypeScript reference to the decorator itself, or `null` if the decorator is synthesized (e.g.
+   * in ngcc).
    */
-  node: ts.Node;
+  node: ts.Node|null;
 
   /**
-   * Arguments of the invocation of the decorator, if the decorator is invoked, or `null` otherwise.
+   * Arguments of the invocation of the decorator, if the decorator is invoked, or `null`
+   * otherwise.
    */
   args: ts.Expression[]|null;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Metadata extracted from an instance of a decorator on another declaration, which was actually
+ * present in a file.
+ *
+ * Concrete decorators always have an `identifier` and a `node`.
+ */
+export interface ConcreteDecorator extends BaseDecorator {
+  identifier: DecoratorIdentifier;
+  node: ts.Node;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Synthetic decorators never have an `identifier` or a `node`, but know the node for which they
+ * were synthesized.
+ */
+export interface SyntheticDecorator extends BaseDecorator {
+  identifier: null;
+  node: null;
+
+  /**
+   * The `ts.Node` for which this decorator was created.
+   */
+  synthesizedFor: ts.Node;
+}
+
+export const Decorator = {
+  nodeForError: (decorator: Decorator): ts.Node => {
+    if (decorator.node !== null) {
+      return decorator.node;
+    } else {
+      // TODO(alxhub): we can't rely on narrowing until TS 3.6 is in g3.
+      return (decorator as SyntheticDecorator).synthesizedFor;
+    }
+  },
+};
+
 /**
  * A decorator is identified by either a simple identifier (e.g. `Decorator`) or, in some cases,
  * a namespaced property access (e.g. `core.Decorator`).