where is sumac native to

Is Sumac wood good for anything?

Likewise, is sumac wood good for anything? John Swanson: Sumac is a good wood for turning, but has a tendency to split and check during drying. The limb wood has lots of reaction wood (top under tension and bottom under compression) and is not too useable. The color is rich green to yellow and brown and is good for face plate work.

Is Sumac poisonous to humans?

While very common, staghorn sumac isn’t dangerous to most people. Other species that share common ancestors, like poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix, formerly Rhus vernix) and the Chinese lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum, formerly Rhus vernicifera) are very poisonous for most humans and pets.

Is Sumac An invasive species?

There are several species of sumac in Eastern North America, but they all have similar properties. The discussion here deals with smooth sumac ( Rhus glabra ), one of the most common and most invasive. Although sumac is native, it is highly invasive.

How to get rid of sumac?

What Can You Use to Get Rid Of Sumac?

• Sumac Basics. Of some half-dozen American sumacs (Rhus spp.), smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), hardy in U.S. ...
• Mechanical Control Methods. ...
• Chemical Control Methods. ...
• The Other Sumac. ...

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Is sumac an invasive species?

Although sumac is native, it is highly invasive. In Curtis' studies for the Vegetation of Wisconsin, sumac had a fidelity number of 10-12, making it one of the most versatile species in the state. Allowed to proceed unchecked, it is able to take over a prairie or savanna natural area.

Are sumac trees native to North America?

Rhus glabra, the smooth sumac, (also known as white sumac, upland sumac, or scarlet sumac) is a species of sumac in the family Anacardiaceae, native to North America, from southern Quebec west to southern British Columbia in Canada, and south to northern Florida and Arizona in the United States and Tamaulipas in ...

Where did sumac trees come from?

Sumac (/ˈsuːmæk/ or /ˈʃuːmæk/), also spelled sumach, is any of about 35 species of flowering plants in the genus Rhus and related genera in the cashew family (Anacardiaceae). Sumacs grow in subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world, including East Asia, Africa, and North America.

Are sumac trees good for anything?

Also known as Tanner's sumac or Sicilian sumac, this species has a number of historical practical uses. The dried fruits are used in spices, the leaves and bark have been used in the leather tanning process, and various dyes can be made from different parts of the plant.

Is sumac poisonous to touch?

Poison sumac releases an oil known as urushiol when the plant is bruised or damaged. Skin contact with the oil of a poison sumac plant causes an allergic skin reaction known as contact dermatitis. All parts of a poison sumac plant are poisonous and the oils remain active even after the plant dies.

Can you eat sumac raw?

Food Use. The most commonly eaten parts of sumac plants are the ripe red berries. These acidic and tart berries can be eaten raw or dried, though they're most popularly used in the form of a berry tea or sumac-ade. Sumac-ade is best when sweetened with maple sugar and can be served hot or cold (Moerman 1998: 471-473).

Do bees like sumac?

Both staghorn and smooth sumac are hardy northern plants. They both produce a lot of pollen and nectar for bees (blooming in June/July for northern climes) and are favored by honey bees.

Is sumac spice poisonous?

Most importantly, eating sumac spice will not end in disaster as it is not poisonous. Unlike its close relatives – poison sumac, ivy, and oak – landscape sumacs do not cause rashes, hives, or other conditions, and neither does the spice derived from the plant.

Can I plant sumac in my yard?

Sumac is a versatile plant that grows in almost any well-drained soil. Full sun or partial shade is fine for most varieties, but flameleaf or prairie sumac has better flowers and fall color if grown in full sun. The plants are drought tolerant, but grow taller if irrigated regularly in the absence of rain.

What animal eats sumac?

Deer, small mammals and numerous species of birds consume sumac berries from both smooth and fragrant sumac.

Will deer eat sumac?

ANSWER: All sumac species (Rhus spp.) are generally resistant to browsing by deer and other mammal herbivory.

Is sumac poisonous to dogs?

Note that poison ivy, oak, and sumac are not toxic to dogs and cats if eaten. However, the plant oils should be removed from the pet's coat to avoid transmission to humans in the home.

What is the difference between poison sumac and sumac?

Also, each stem on the poison sumac plant has a cluster of leaflets with smooth edges, while harmless sumac leaves have jagged edges. During the fall, these leaves turn bright red. Poison sumac may also have yellow-green flowers.

Are sumac trees native to Canada?

In Canada poison sumac is distributed in southern Ontario and southern Quebec. Smooth sumac (R. glabra) is most common in British Columbia and extends to Ontario. It resembles staghorn sumac but has smooth twigs.

Is sumac the same as Tree of Heaven?

Sumac leaflets are serrated or toothed (jagged edges), while Tree of Heaven leaflets have smooth edges. Seeds/Fruits: As mentioned previously, sumac trees have a reddish, cone shaped cluster of fuzzy fruits that can persist throughout the summer and fall months.

Is sumac native to Canada?

How to identify sumac. Staghorn sumacs (native to Canada) are shrubs or small trees, which at their largest are five metres tall and six metres wide. The leaves range from 25 to 55 centimetres in length, each with nine to 31 leaflets that are six to 11 centimetres long.

Where does the word "sumac" come from?

The word sumac traces its etymology from Old French sumac (13th century), from Mediaeval Latin sumach, from Arabic summāq ( سماق ), from Syriac summāqa ( ܣܘܡܩܐ )- meaning "red". The generic name Rhus derives from Ancient Greek ῥοῦς ( rhous ), meaning "sumac", of unknown etymology; it was connected with the verb ῥέω ( rheō ), "to flow", due to its sap, but this is now rejected by scholars.

Where was sumac used?

Sumac was used as a treatment for several different ailments in medieval medicine, primarily in Middle Eastern and South Asian countries (where sumac was more readily available than in Europe). An 11th-century shipwreck off the coast of Rhodes, excavated by archeologists in the 1970s, contained commercial quantities of sumac drupes. These could have been intended for use as medicine, as a culinary spice, or as a dye. A clinical study showed that dietary sumac decreases the blood pressure in patients with hypertension and can be used as adjunctive treatment.

What is the spice used in Za'atar?

Rhus coriaria is used in the spice mixture za'atar. During medieval times, primarily from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries, sumac made its mark in cookbooks frequently used by the affluent in Western Europe.

How tall are sumac trees?

Sumacs are dioecious shrubs and small trees in the family Anacardiaceae that can reach a height of 1–10 m (3.3–32.8 ft). The leaves are usually pinnately compound, though some species have trifoliate or simple leaves. The flowers are in dense panicles or spikes 5–30 cm (2.0–11.8 in) long, each flower very small, greenish, creamy white or red, with five petals. The fruits are reddish, thin-fleshed drupes covered in varying levels of hairs at maturity and form dense clusters at branch tips, sometimes called sumac bobs.

What is a sumach?

Sumac ( / ˈsuːmæk / or / ˈʃuːmæk / ), also spelled sumach, is any of about 35 species of flowering plants in the genus Rhus and related genera in the cashew family ( Anacardiaceae ). Sumacs grow in subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world, including East Asia, Africa, and North America.

What is sumac stew?

One dish in particular called sumāqiyya, a stew made out of sumac, was frequently anglicized as "somacchia" by Europeans. In North America, the smooth sumac ( R. glabra '), three-leaf sumac ( R. trilobata ), and staghorn sumac ( R. typhina) are sometimes used to make a beverage termed "sumac-ade", "Indian lemonade", or "rhus juice".

What is the name of the spice that grows in the wild?

Sumac spice. Species including the fragrant sumac ( R. aromatica ), the littleleaf sumac ( R. microphylla ), the smooth sumac ( R. glabra ), and the staghorn sumac ( R. typhina) are grown for ornament, either as the wild types or as cultivars.

Where are sumac trees native to?

Sumacs include about 35 flowering woody North American species in the Rhus genus within the Anacardiaceae family, which also includes cashews, mangos, and pistachios. There are dozens of other sumac species native to Europe, Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world, a few of which are used as landscape plants in ...

What is tobacco sumac?

This plant, also known as tobacco sumac, has glossy evergreen foliage that is pink-tinged in the early spring, passing through light-green in summer, and becoming maroon after frost. Greenish or white flowers grow in 1- to 2-inch long clusters, leading to fruit that matures to red in mid-September. Evergreen sumac can be used to create a hedge or screen, or it can be pruned to favor a single leader to form a straight trunk and tree-like shape. Only female plants produce flowers and berries. This shrub is fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and it is mostly resistant to insects and diseases.

What is lemonade berry sumac?

Lemonade Berry Sumac (Rhus integrifolia) Richard Cummins / Getty Images. Unlike most sumacs (which have trifoliate or pinnate leaves), lemonade berry sumac has simple leaves, with a waxy, leathery texture. The red berries have a tart flavor and are sometimes used in drinks. They are also very attractive to wildlife.

What is the name of the tree that covers the antlers of deer?

Rhus typhina is the largest of the North American sumacs, an open, spreading shrub (sometimes a small tree), earning the common name staghorn sumac because of the reddish-brown hairs covering the branches as velvet covers the antlers of deer. It is also sometimes known as velvet sumac. It has large pinnate leaves with 13 to 27 toothed leaflets. It is a dioecious sumac (plants generally have male or female parts, but not both), and the female flowers produce attractive clusters of fruit that turn bright red in autumn, persisting into the winter. In landscaping, this plant is generally planted in areas where it can form small thickets as it suckers, but it can easily spread rampantly if it is not supervised.

What is a staghorn sumac?

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) Ruth Swan / Getty Images. Rhus typhina is the largest of the North American sumacs, an open, spreading shrub (sometimes a small tree), earning the common name staghorn sumac because of the reddish-brown hairs covering the branches as velvet covers the antlers of deer.

What is a winged sumac?

Winged sumac—which is also known by a variety of other common names, including dwarf sumac, flameleaf sumac, and shining sumac —is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub or small tree that thrives in dry soils in open areas where it often forms large colonies. It is similar to smooth sumac, except the leaves are untoothed. It has large pinnate leaves with 9 to 21 untoothed leaflets that are shiny and dark green. The foliage turns bright red in autumn. It is best used in areas where its tendency to spread and colonize is desired; it is not a good plant in small landscapes.

What is Tanner's Sumac used for?

The dried fruits are used in spices, the leaves and bark have been used in the leather tanning process, and various dyes can be made from different parts of the plant.

What is the name of the sumac plant?

Sumac species tend to be regional. However, one species, Rhus glabra , (Roos GLAY-bra) the “smooth sumac” is found in all contiguous 48 states. The Indians used the shoots of the Rhus glabra in “salads” though many ethonobotanists say the natives never really made “salads” as we know the term. In the northeast the staghorn sumac ( Rhus typhina, synonym: Rhus hirta) predominates. It’s the largest of the sumacs and the one with the least tart berries. In Florida the predominant sumac is Rhus copallina, also known the shining sumac, the winged sumac, dwarf sumac, flame leaf sumac and the mountain sumac (curious as there are no mountains in Florida.) The multitude of common names is why botanical names are important. Rhus is what the Greeks called the sumac and it has come to mean red. Copallina (rhymes with Carolina) means gummy or resinous, referring to the sap which turns black when exposed to air and has been used for varnish, particularly in Japan.

How many species of sumac are there?

There are some 250 sumac species in the genus. All the berries of the red sumacs are edible. I know the ones I’ve encountered in Maine and Florida are edible. Acid on hairs on the berries is used to make an ade. The berries themselves can be used to make a spice, sometimes a tea. Sumacs are found throughout the world, with many species in North America. You’ll find them across all of the United States and Canada except for the far north. Sumacs are a shrub or small tree that can reach from four to 35 feet. The leaves are arranged in a spiral and the flowers are dense spikes, an inch to four inches long, on the end of branches called terminal clusters. The fruits are technically drupes and collectively are called “bobs.”

What is the color of sumac?

Externally cleaned seeds, when ground, add a lemon-like flavor to salads or meat and is used often in Levant cuisine. They make a purple-colored spice, which is very handy where there are no lemons. Native Americans also mixed the leaves and berries of the smooth and staghorn sumac to extend their tobacco. The leaves of many sumacs yield tannin and leather tanned with sumac is flexible, lightweight, and light in color. Oddly, dried sumac wood is fluorescent under long-wave Ultra Violet Light

What is the poisonous sumac?

The poisonous sumac has roundish leaves, pointy on the end, has white fruit that grows out from where a leaf meets the stem, and grows only in very wet places.

When do staghorn sumac berries ripen?

I can remember marveling at their shape. Sumacs flowers from May to July and fruit can ripen from June to September. The fruit often lasts through winter and into spring. While many birds eat sumac berries apparently they are not a preferred fruit in that they are amongst the last to be eaten after a long winter. Deer nibble on the branches, as do people, kind of.

How much sugar is in Sumac Jelly?

Sumac Jelly: Take prepared juice and use the Sure-Jell recipe for elderberry jelly, 3 cups juice to 4.5 cups of sugar. Leave out the lemon juice.

What is the use of stag horn sumac?

All parts of the stag horn sumac, except the roots, can be used as both a natural dye and as a mordant. The seeds have an oil that can be made into candle wax. Even the sap of the poisonous white sumac makes a black varnish.

What is a sumac tree?

Sumac (genus Rhus) is a group of flowering small trees and shrubs. Sumacs are identified by their fern-like pinnate leaves, conical clusters (panicles) of white or green flowers, and fuzzy red berries. In the fall, sumac trees and shrubs turn brilliant autumn shades of red, orange, or purple. Trees and shrubs in the genus Rhus grow between 3 ...

What zone does African Sumac grow in?

African sumac tree only grows in USDA zones 9 through 11. The drought-tolerant African sumac tree grows best in hot, full sun. Unlike most sumac trees native to the US, the African sumac has dense evergreen foliage. This growth feature makes the tree excellent as a shade tree or windbreak.

How big do staghorn sumac trees get?

Staghorn sumacs grow between 15 and 25 ft. (4.5 – 7.6 m) tall and up to 30 ft. (9 m) wide. The small tree has an open, spreading crown.

What color are the leaves of a fragrant sumac tree?

Fragrant sumac leaves grow up to 3” (7.5 cm) long. In the fall, fragrant sumac leaves turn shades of orange, red, or reddish-purple. Fragrant sumac fruit and leaves. Sumac berries: Fragrant sumac berries are small and red with a hairy appearance.

How long are the leaves of a sumac tree?

Sumac leaves grow between 16” and 24” (40 – 60 cm) long. Although most sumac species leaves are pinnate leaves, some species of sumacs have broad leaves with shallow lobing. For example, leaves on the fragrant sumac ( Rhus aromatica) have a broadly ovate shape and only have three leaflets per compound leaf.

How to identify a sumac tree?

Identify sumac trees by looking at the leaves, flowers, and berries. Sumacs have large, characteristic fern-like leaves made up of 3 to 31 leaflets. Another identifying feature of sumacs is their cone-shaped white or green flower panicles, 24” (60 cm) long that mature into clusters of red fuzzy berries.

How fast does a sumac tree grow?

Hardy sumac trees, like the staghorn sumac, have a fast growth rate—growing as much as 24” (60 cm) a year.

What is sumac used for?

Sumac is an ancient medicinal plant. Modern day studies have shown that sumac is antimicrobial. This is probably one reason sumac has been used to treat sore throats. Like many wild medicinal and wild edible plants sumac also has antioxidant properties. Another unique medicinal property of sumac is that it has hypoglycemic properties,which means that it lowers blood sugar which could help people with some conditions like hyperglycemia. Like many other tart or sour tasting foods, this plant also contains Vitamin C.

Is sumac a poison?

The first thing we think about when we hear the word sumac is the dreaded poison sumac. Just to clarify, the Sumac we are speaking of here is in the Genus: Rhus, the Poison Sumac is in the Genus Toxidendron, with Poison Ivy and Poison Oak. To make matters more confusing Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac used to be considered to be in the genus Rhus with the non-poisonous Sumacs, but all that has been straightened out and currently the non-poisonous Sumacs are in the genus Rhus and the skin irritating plants are in the genus Toxidendron . Either way all these plants are in the same family, but so are mangos, cashews and pistachios. The Sumacs (Genus: Rhus) are a genus of plants native to North America and other parts of the world, there are many species, two of the more common species that apply to this article are Staghorn sumac ( Rhus typhina) and Smooth Sumac ( Rhus glabra ).

Is edible sumac the same as poison oak?

Edible Sumac is in the same family as Poison Sumac, Poison Ivy and Poison Oak. Some people who have very sensitive skin may have an allergic reaction, this is also known to occur in other plants in this family like mangos and cashews. Another thing to watch out for is that sometimes they are loaded with small grubs on the inside of the berry cluster. The way to avoid this is to pick them right when they turn ripe, but I don’t worry about them, they probably add more nutrition to the drink anyways.

Where Should I Start?

Check out the Grow Native! Committee’s Top Ten picks of native plants for a particular purpose.

Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?

Learn about the Native Environment (s) inhabited by the plants in this database.

How to tell the difference between poison sumac and staghorn sumac?

The lack of “hair” on the white fruit, or stems, and the smooth-edged leaves on poison sumac are a good way to tell the difference between Poison Sumac and Staghorn Sumac ( Rhus typhina ). Note that Dwarf Sumac ( Rhus copallina) is similar in appearance except its stems have raised dots and its leaflets have smooth edges.

How big do staghorn sumac leaves get?

Staghorn Sumac has compound leaves that can grow 12 to 24 inches long and are made up of many 2- to 5-inch-long leaflets. Leaflets turn bright colors before falling off in the fall.

What is poison smac?

Actually, Poison Sumac is a small tree or large shrub with large attractive leaves and white fruits that could be used as an ornamental if it didn’t cause severe skin irritation in most people. Its smaller relatives with 3-parted leaves, Poison Ivy and Poison Oak, have similar irritating properties. Poison Sumac ( Rhus vernix) ...

Can a sage plant grow in a lawn?

It was planted as an ornamental but escaped cultivation, so it can also be found growing in lawns and gardens. The plant tolerates unfavorable conditions, thrives in polluted city air, and grows in such inhospitable sites as cracks in pavement. It will grow on any soil type.

Where do sumac trees grow?

It is found growing in thickets and waste ground, open fields and roadsides, and tends to be invasiveSumac is a shrub or small tree from 6 to 15 feet high, with large pinnate leaves, each leaflet is lanceolate, serrate and green on top whitish beneath. In the fall the leaves turn a bright red. Flowers bloom in June and July they are in dense panicles of greenish-red small five petaled flowers. The edible fruit is a large erect cluster of small bright red berries.

What is Sumac berry?

An infusion of Sumac berries is diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, purgative and refrigerant. It is used in the treatment of late-onset diabetes, constipated bowel complaints, febrile diseases, dysmenorrhoea (painful or difficult menstruation). The berries have been chewed as a remedy for bed-wetting. An infusion of Sumac blossoms used as an eye wash for sore eyes. The milky latex from the plant is used as a salve on sores.

What is sumac bark used for?

It is used in alternative medicine for the treatment of colds, diarrhea, fevers, general debility, to increase the flow of breast milk, sore mouths and throats, rectal bleeding, inflammation of the bladder and painful urination, retention of urine and dysentery and is applied externally to treat excessive vaginal discharge, burns and skin eruptions. Powdered bark of Sumac is made into a good antiseptic salve. An infusion of the leaves is used for asthma, diarrhea and stomatosis. A poultice of the leaves used to treat skin rashes. Sumac leaves are also chewed for sore gums and rubbed on sore lips.

What is the use of sumac berries?

Sumac berries, bark, root and leaves have many uses in traditional medicine. My favorite use of sumac is to take the berries in late summer and soak them in a jug of cold water, strain through muslin or cheesecloth to eliminate the rough hairs, sweeten and it makes a delicious citrus tasting drink. Berry clusters can also be used in dried arrangements and crafts, they hold their shape and color for years if stored properly. These small trees have stunning red pinnate leaves in autumn. They hang on to the berries all winter, until pushed off by new spring buds. All the sumac bushes with red berries are non poisonous. Poison Sumac has drooping white berries and is a skin irritant of the worst kind.

What is the substance in Sumac?

When broken or cut, Sumac plant produces a milky substance which forms a solid gum-like body or gall, containing large quantities of tannic and gallic acid. These galls are used in tanning leather. A herbal wine can also be prepared from them. An oil extracted from the seeds is used in making candles. Brown, red, and black dye are obtained from the berries, said to be excellent for wool.

What is wild supac used for?

Wild Sumac was used extensively by Native Americans for food and medicine. Young shoots and roots are peeled and eaten raw. The fruit is also eaten raw, cooked or made into a lemonade-like drink. The active constituents in Sumac are being studied for use in many diseases some possible applications are in the treatment of TB, diabetes, and some cancers.

Why is the sage plant sacred?

Believed by some Native American tribes to foretell the weather and the changing of the seasons, for this reason it was held as a sacred plant.

Overview

Cultivation and uses

Description

Taxonomy

Etymology

Toxicity and control

Further reading

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