Tree of Heaven: Native Look-alikes (2024)

Tree-of-heaven is an invasive tree species. It reproduces prolifically, making it hard to manage and control. Accurately identifying the tree so as not to confuse it with several native look-alikes is imperative prior to any control measures being implemented. Tree-of-heaven has several key characteristics that distinguish it from native look-alikes black walnut and staghorn sumac.

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- Tree-of-Heaven, Ailanthus altissima, commonly referred to as ailanthus, is a rapidly growing invasive tree found across much of the United States.

Property owners need to learn to identify this tree before applying control measures.

It is imperative that the tree be accurately identified since there are several native look-alikes it can be confused with.

Tree-of-Heaven has what is referred to as a pinnately compound leaf, or a leaf with a central stem called a rachis, lined with as many as 41 leaflets.

Common native trees that have a similar pinnately compound leaf structure include sumac, walnut, hickory, ash, locust, and boxelder.

Be sure to differentiate between these species.

Since staghorn sumac and black walnut are common and often found growing in similar areas as Tree-of-Heaven, we will focus on these two native look-alikes.

Here is the leaf of staghorn sumac.

As you can see, like Tree-of-Heaven, the leaves are also pinnately compound with a central stem, or rachis.

However, staghorn sumac leaves are shorter than Tree-of-Heaven, ranging from 16 to 24 inches long, and having anywhere from nine to 31 leaflets.

This close-up shows the margins or edges of staghorn sumac leaflets.

As you can see, they are not smooth like Tree-of-Heaven, but have teeth or serrations along the edge.

Here's a side-by-side comparison of the leaflets.

Tree-of-Heaven is on the left, and staghorn sumac is on the right.

Note the smooth margin and presence of one or two glandular teeth at the base of the leaflets on Tree-of-Heaven.

The fruit of staghorn sumac is a red fuzzy droop, a fleshy fruit with thin skin and central stone containing the seed.

It is found in persistent upright clusters.

Staggered sumac has stout brown twigs, covered with fuzz like deer antlers and velvet, thus its name staghorn sumac.

The bark of staghorn sumac remains fuzzy for several years, ultimately turning gray-brown and smooth.

What distinguishes it from Tree-of-Heaven bark are the numerous horizontal marks called lenticels as shown in this photo.

Lenticels are raised pores on the stem that allow for gas exchange.

Like Tree-of-Heaven, staghorn sumac grows in dense colonies or clones, and is dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female trees.

Shown here is a colony of female trees, as indicated by the numerous red fruit clusters.

These help to identify staghorn sumac from a distance.

Another commonly confused Tree-of-Heaven native look-alike is black walnut.

The leaves of black walnut on the left are also pinnately compound like Tree-of-Heaven, but shorter, ranging from 12 to 24 inches long, and having anywhere from 13 to 23 leaflets.

And once again, unlike Tree-of-Heaven, the edges or margins of the leaflets are toothed or serrated.

As you can also see on the left, the bark of black walnut is much different than Tree-of-Heaven.

Black walnut bark is dark brown and has a rough diamond-shaped pattern.

The fruit of black walnut is also very different from that of Tree-of-Heaven.

It is a round nut covered with a husk.

The husk turns black and decomposes once it falls from the tree.

Tree-of-Heaven has a papery wing surrounding the seed and is called a Samara.

The black walnut twig is not as stout as that of Tree-of-Heaven or staghorn sumac, and contains a terminal bud at the end of the twig.

Also, black walnut leaf scars shown on the left, have three lobes, which some say resemble the face of a monkey.

Tree-of-Heaven leaf scars on the right are more heart-shaped.

Lastly, if you cut open a black walnut twig, you will see the center, or pith, is chambered as shown here on the left.

This is very different than the pith inside twigs of both Tree-of-Heaven and staghorn sumac, which are brown and spongy as seen on the right.

Although Tree-of-Heaven has some native look-alikes, it can be easy to distinguish from other trees through close examination.

Compare the leaves, bark, twigs, and seeds to identify whether you're looking at Tree-of-Heaven, staghorn sumac, or black walnut.

Be sure to make these distinctions before applying any control measures.