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.
![Photo of Tree of Heaven](images/large/treeofheaven-full.jpg)
Photo by Gary Huntzinger
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension
![Photo of Tree of Heaven Fruit](images/large/treeofheaven-fruit-full.jpg)
Photo by Gary Huntzinger
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension
![Photo of Tree of Heaven Leaflet](images/large/treeofheaven-leaflet-full.jpg)
Photo by Gary Huntzinger
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension
![Photo of Tree of Heaven Leaves and Fruits](images/large/treeofheaven-leavesandfruits-full.jpg)
Photo by Gary Huntzinger
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension