Can Tree Branches Cause Skin Rashes?

All sumacs are decorative, but some also cause skin rashes on contact


When gardeners find themselves with itchy rashes, tree branches are sometimes to blame. Contact with the bark, sap, leaves or thorns of some species can result in skin reactions. With some species, rashes occur on only a relatively few susceptible individuals. Other species cause skin problems for almost everyone who touches them. When working with tree branches, always wear long pants, long-sleeved shirt and gloves. Avoid touching your face and especially your eyes while working.

Toxic Family

Sumacs (Rhus spp.) are excellent ornamental plants, but contact with some sumac species can cause severe rashes. Among them are varnish tree (Rhus verniciflua or Toxicodendron vernicifluuum), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9. Varnish trees grow to 50 feet tall and 30 feet wide, with compound leaves bearing 7 to 13 leaflets each. Wax tree (Rhus succedanea or Toxicodendron succedaneum), hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8, also causes contact dermatitis. The deciduous trees grow 30 feet tall and wide and bear compound leaves that turn bright red in the fall.

Fig Problems

Branches of members of the fig (Ficus spp.) family contain sap that can irritate skin or cause rashes. Common fig trees include weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11. The trees grow 60 to 70 feet tall and feature glossy green, oval-shaped leaves. The common fig (Ficus carica), hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9, features lobed, glossy green leaves. The trees grow 10 to 20 feet tall, with an equal spread and bear edible fruit.


Sap or needles on branches of the California redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) can cause skin rashes. Hardy in USDA zones 7 through 9, the redwood soars 60 to 100 feet tall, with a 15 to 25 foot spread. The trees feature bright green needles and tall straight trunks. Exposure to branches of common red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), often used in landscaping, can cause rashes in some individuals. The conical or columnar trees are hardy in USDA zones 2 through 9 and grow up to 65 feet tall, with a 25 foot spread.

Common Shade Trees

Contact with sap of some common shade trees may cause rashes. These include ginkgo trees (Ginkgo biloba), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8 and bearing distinctive fan-shaped leaves. The bark of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.), generally hardy in USDA zones 6 through 9, often harbors lichens that cause skin reactions. Sap or juices of maples (Acer spp.), generally hardy in USDA zones 5 or 6 through 8 or 9, may irritate skin; as can the same substances within the branches of elm trees (Ulmus spp.), generally hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8 or 9.

Other Problem Trees

Branches from some other species may cause rashes as well. Examples include pepper trees (Schinus spp.), generally hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11; Cajput tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia), hardy in USDA zones 9 through 11; Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum), hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10; dogwoods (Cornus spp.), generally hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9; eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.), generally hardy in zones 9 through 10, and black walnut (Juglans nigra), hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9. Pesticides and substances applied to trees may also cause dermatitis in some cases.

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