Plant Problem Diagnostic
How to Identify Tree of Heaven
The short answer
Tree of heaven has large pinnately compound leaves with many leaflets. The identifying detail is the leaflet margin: leaflets are smooth-edged except for one or two bumpy glandular teeth near the base, each with a gland underneath. Native look-alikes such as staghorn sumac and black walnut instead have toothed or serrated leaflet edges all along.
Two more clues help confirm it: the central leaf stem is smooth and hairless, whereas staghorn sumac's is fuzzy; and crushed tree-of-heaven leaves or twigs give off a strong, unpleasant odor. Its seeds are papery winged samaras, unlike sumac's upright red fuzzy clusters or walnut's round nuts.
Correct ID matters. Tree of heaven is by far the preferred host of the invasive spotted lanternfly, and it is very difficult to remove because cutting or mowing triggers vigorous stump sprouts and root suckers. Effective control means treating with an appropriate herbicide before cutting; see the spotted lanternfly guide for the pest connection.
The key ID feature: glandular teeth on smooth leaflets
Penn State Extension's look-alike comparison points to the leaflet margin as the giveaway. Tree of heaven has smooth (untoothed) leaflet edges except for one or two glandular teeth at the base of each leaflet, with a noticeable gland on the underside of those teeth. Staghorn sumac and black walnut, by contrast, have toothed or serrated margins along the whole leaflet.
The compound leaves are large, sometimes with dozens of leaflets. Supporting features: the rachis (central leaf stem) of tree of heaven is smooth and hairless, while staghorn sumac's is distinctly fuzzy; and crushing the leaves or twigs releases a strong, foul odor often likened to rotten peanuts, which native species do not share. The seeds are single papery wings (samaras) that hang in clusters.
Telling it apart from sumac, walnut, and hickory
Staghorn sumac has toothed leaflets, a fuzzy leaf stem and fuzzy young twigs with prominent horizontal lenticels, and upright cone-shaped clusters of red fuzzy fruit, nothing like Ailanthus's winged seeds. Black walnut has 13 to 23 toothed leaflets, dark diamond-patterned bark, chambered pith inside the twigs, and round nuts. Hickories also have toothed, fewer leaflets.
When in doubt, work through the checklist: smooth leaflet margins with basal glandular teeth, smooth rachis, foul crush odor, and winged samaras together point to tree of heaven. Any consistent toothing along the leaflet edges points away from it toward a native. Because misidentification is easy and the control decision is consequential, confirm with your county Extension office if you are unsure.
Why it matters, and why removal is hard
Tree of heaven is the spotted lanternfly's most highly preferred and suitable host: the pest survives better and lays far more eggs on it than on other trees, which is why land managers target it. If you are dealing with spotted lanternfly, see the dedicated guide on what to do.
Removal is genuinely difficult. Penn State Extension notes that because of its extensive root system and resprouting ability, tree of heaven responds to simple cutting or mowing by throwing large numbers of stump sprouts and root suckers, often making the problem worse. The recommended approach is to treat standing trees with an appropriate herbicide (commonly glyphosate or triclopyr formulations) and let it move into the roots before cutting, then follow up in later years. This guide gives no product rates; follow the herbicide label and Extension guidance, and for large or hazardous trees hire a professional.
Sources
Reviewed 2026-07-18. We cite university Extension, government, and established horticultural sources — and never invent pesticide rates or dangerous treatments.
- Penn State Extension - Tree of Heaven: Native Look-alikes — Tree of heaven has smooth leaflet margins except for one or two glandular teeth at the base of each leaflet with a gland underneath, and a smooth hairless rachis, whereas staghorn sumac and black walnut have toothed/serrated margins and sumac has a fuzzy rachis and lenticels; tree of heaven produces winged samaras.
- Penn State Extension - Controlling Tree-of-heaven, a Preferred Host of the Spotted Lanternfly — Tree of heaven is by far the most highly preferred and suitable host of the spotted lanternfly, with higher nymph and adult survival and far more eggs produced on it than on other trees.
- Penn State Extension - Controlling Tree of Heaven: Why it Matters — Because of its extensive root system and resprouting ability, tree of heaven is difficult to control; cutting or mowing produces large numbers of stump sprouts and root suckers, so herbicide treatment before cutting and follow-up are needed.