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Tree of Heaven Identification

Tree of heaven is an invasive species native to China and Taiwan that was introduced to the United States in 1784. It spreads easily and forms dense colonies that prevent growth of other native plants. The tree grows in almost any soil condition if sunlight is available and quickly colonizes disturbed areas. Tree of heaven can reach 80-100 feet tall and has light brown bark with a cantaloupe texture. It produces small, light-green flowers in spring and one to two-inch long winged seeds in fall. Leaves are pinnately compound with 10 to 40 lance-shaped leaflets in pairs, each with a small notch at the base.

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Brandon Michael Chew
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2K views1 page

Tree of Heaven Identification

Tree of heaven is an invasive species native to China and Taiwan that was introduced to the United States in 1784. It spreads easily and forms dense colonies that prevent growth of other native plants. The tree grows in almost any soil condition if sunlight is available and quickly colonizes disturbed areas. Tree of heaven can reach 80-100 feet tall and has light brown bark with a cantaloupe texture. It produces small, light-green flowers in spring and one to two-inch long winged seeds in fall. Leaves are pinnately compound with 10 to 40 lance-shaped leaflets in pairs, each with a small notch at the base.

Uploaded by

Brandon Michael Chew
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Tree of Heaven Identification

Tree of heaven, a primary host tree for spotted lanternfly, is also


an invasive species in Michigan. Native to China and Taiwan,
tree of heaven was first imported into the United States in 1784.
Over time, its fast growth made it a popular street and
landscape tree across the U.S.

Tree of heaven is considered invasive because it spreads


easily by seed and root shoots, often developing dense
colonies that prevent the growth of other native vegetation.
Tree of heaven can grow in almost any soil condition if sunlight
is available and can quickly colonize disturbed areas, forest
openings, roadsides and streambanks. 5533495
Credit: Richard Garner, Bugwood.org

Identifying tree of heaven:


Large trees reach 80-100 feet; up to six
feet in diameter. Bark on mature trees is
light brown to gray with a cantaloupe 5391834 5451700
skin texture. Credit: M. Randall, The Nature Conservacy, Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff University of
Bugwood.org Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Clusters of small, light-green flowers


appear on trees from April to May.
Female trees produce one to two-inch
long, green to pink samaras, or winged
seeds, from August to October. Each 5398859 UGA1150029
samara contains one seed. Credit: Robert Videcki, Doronicum Kft. Credit: Chuck Bargeron, University of
Bugwood.org Georgia, Bugwood.org

Leaves are pinnately compound with


a central stem with 10 to 40
lance-shaped leaflets growing in pairs.
Leaflets are smooth-edged with a small
notch on each side close to the base. 5533218 UGA1330079
Credit: Richard Garner, Bugwood.org Credit: Chris Evans, Bugwood.org

Tree of heaven looks like black walnut or staghorn sumac, both common trees in Michigan.
Leaflets on both of these look-alikes are serrated or toothed along the edges. Tree of heaven can
be most easily identified by the notches at the base of each leaflet.

Report suspected spotted lanternfly:


800-292-3939 or www.misin.msu.edu or MDA-Info@michigan.gov
Learn more:
michigan.gov/exoticpests or michigan.gov/spottedlanternfly

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