Not to be confused with native trees such as Black Walnut, which has rough gray bark, or Staghorn Sumac which has distinctive fuzzy red berries in large clusters. These trees are easily mistaken for Tree of Heaven, so if you're looking to remove tree of heaven make sure it isn't in fact one of those two.

Ghetto Palm, Tree of Heaven, Chinese Sumac, Stink Sumac. This foreign tree has many names. Originally imported as an ornamental, it quickly spread beyond Victorian era gardens. Today its one of the most common tree species of urban areas. Growing in some of the most inhospitable man-made terrain, it is especially common in industrial areas and abandoned urban lots. Not just content with soil, it will grow in sidewalk cracks and on the rooftops of neglected buildings. If allowed they can become very large trees. Unfortunately size does not equal longevity, and after being allowed to reach full size they often only live 50 years or so. Though some specimens will live over 100 years or more without issues. Its a strange tree in that regard. Ironically these trees do best when people attempt to cut them down, and have a practically infinite lifespan with regular removal.

All of its names are fitting. Stink Sumac comes the female variety's tendency to stink. Tree of Heaven, its Chinese name, comes from its aggressive regrowth after cutting, with its new branches reaching straight up toward heaven. And of course Ghetto Palm describes its tendancy to grow in neglected urban areas.