Tree of Heaven

Photo by Gary Huntzinger
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension

This fast-growing, weedy tree with malodorous flowers gained its fame from the book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, where it survived on a Brooklyn fire escape. When in flower, the tree stands out because of its many colorful flowers. The leaves are quite large, with many leaflets. The fruit is a samara. When small, it resembles staghorn sumac, but tree of heaven has one or more notches near the base of the leaflet.

Additional Images

• Large Image of Tree of Heaven
• Large Image of Tree of Heaven Fruit
• Large Image of Tree of Heaven Leaflet
• Large Image of Tree of Heaven Leaves and Fruits