Lawn Weeds that Look Like Little Trees (6 Types)

One of my favorite aspects of having a lawn is that it is always changing. Sometimes a volunteer seedling from one of our yard’s trees begins to grow somewhere in the yard and we leave it be. But sometimes that little tree is really a lawn weed! This weed tree could choke out your turf and cause unexpected consequences to your beautiful yard. In this article, I will introduce you to a number of lawn weeds that look like little trees and explain what they can do.

Most Common Weeds That Look Like Little Trees (Short Answer)

Several lawn weeds look like little trees, they steal resources and spread quickly. White mulberry, tree of heaven, black locust, and Norway maple are all invasive weed trees that look like little native trees as they grow. Field horsetail and prickly Russian thistle are two lawn weeds that look like pine trees at first but then change at maturity and propagate rapidly.

A Closer Look at Lawn Weeds that Look Like Small Trees

A healthy yard has plants of all sizes from your turf low down to shady canopy trees that can be very tall. To keep your yard in balance, you need to make sure nothing is growing where it shouldn’t be. Once a plant, however lovely, shows up where it’s not wanted or welcome, it needs to be dealt with. Watch out for the following weeds that look like little trees.

White Mulberry (Morus alba L.):

What it looks like: This invasive species, native to China, is easily identified by the small white buds that grow along its stem. While a seedling, it has smooth brownish-grey bark. As it grows the leaves of the white mulberry alternate arrangements. Some leaves are serrate (teeth of leaf point up towards apex) while others are dentate (teeth gaps are squarish and teeth point outward).

The fruits of the white mulberry look like blackberries but can be pinkish to purple in color.

What it does: This weed that looks like a small tree is often spread by birds. Once the seed sprouts, white mulberry can grow in suboptimal conditions and outpace other plants. They are a tough weed to control once established and should be removed right away.

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima (Mill.)):

What it looks like: Another invasive species from China, this is one you need to pull up right away. You can identify it by its grey-colored bark. As it grows, its leaves form a pinnate (leaves directly opposite each other) pattern and it puts up large flowers. Its rapid growth (5ft every season) also helps you identify it. In the spring it produces yellow-green flowers that reach 16 inches and produce a strong odor. Its branches are a reddish-brown color.

What it does: The tree of heaven can quickly destroy your yard’s ecosystem. It spreads rapidly, grows extremely quickly, and is allelopathic (releases chemicals that kill all surrounding plants). It can grow up to 60 feet and produces a thick powerful tap root that can damage building foundations. This small tree-like weed must be pulled up immediately!

Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia):

What it looks like: This medium-sized weed tree is native to the U.S’s mountainous terrains such as the Appalachian and Ozark regions. It has spread widely and can be recognized by its reddish-brown to black bark. The compound leaves of the black locust are about a foot long and short-stemmed leaflets cluster in groups of 7-19. As it grows, it creates a narrow canopy that produces pyramid-shaped flower clusters in the spring and feathery leaves throughout the summer.

What it does: Black locust self-seeds easily and grows rapidly. It chokes out other plants and generates tons of seeds. Its root system is shallow and aggressive and will spread to consume all available resources. Some branches also sport wicked thorns that can puncture the unwary.

Norway Maple (Acer platanoides):

What it looks like: This invasive weed tree is native to Norway. It produces a thick rich canopy and changes color in Autumn. They have smooth gray bark with a mottled appearance. During spring and summer, the leaves are a dark green, lobed, and grow to be around 5in wide and 6in long. In late spring, Norway maple blooms and reveals yellow-green flowers. Their most recognizable trait, however, is the winged seeds that can be seen helicoptering across the sky on a windy fall day.

What it does: Maples can grow in shade and establish themselves quickly in unfamiliar terrains. These advantages allow them to quickly outpace other desired understory plants. Their thick canopy can shade out smaller trees and shrubs and if not attended to can become a nuisance. They are heavy producers of seeds and the wings allow the seeds to travel great distances.

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense):

What it looks like: This weed that looks like a little tree imitates a pine tree’s growth. It puts up horsetail-looking stems that can reach 2ft in height. Meanwhile, these weeds are creating rhizomes that reach as far down as 6 ft. They differ from pines in they lack the apical growth of those trees.

What it does: This lawn weed that looks like a small tree is fast spreading. It propagates via rhizome division making it very hard to completely get rid of. It establishes itself in open areas of land and can be toxic to grazing animals.

Prickly Russian Thistle (Salsola tragus​):

What it looks like: A native of southeast Russia, this weed looks like a small tree as it grows. While still a small seedling this weed resembles a pine tree. But once it reaches maturity its thistles turn thorny and bushy. It reaches about 6 feet in height then dries up and becomes the infamous tumbleweed.

What it does: Prickly Russian Thistle can blend into a pine grove. As they become established and grow, they produce large amounts of seeds and disperse them over great distances. A windblown tumbleweed can deposit seeds on your lawn and roll away without you knowing. Identifying these weeds that look like little trees before they mature can save your yard!