Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Tree of Heaven

Ailanthus altissima

Typically in season from September to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Disturbed ground, Woodland edges. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)

Photo: (c) Nicola van Berkel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Nicola van Berkel · iNaturalist

When Tree of Heaven is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak September to October. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Tree of Heaven is usually found in Disturbed ground, Woodland edges.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Toxic look-alikes: Poison sumac, Staghorn sumac, Black walnut. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Tree of Heaven into the field

Open Tree of Heaven in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Tree of Heaven: common questions

When is Tree of Heaven in season?

Tree of Heaven is generally in season from September to October in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Tree of Heaven grow?

Tree of Heaven is usually found in Disturbed ground, Woodland edges.

Is Tree of Heaven safe to forage?

Toxic look-alikes: Poison sumac, Staghorn sumac, Black walnut. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits