Rhus typhina

Rhus typhina fruit (19/03/2011, London)

Position: Full sun

Soil: Moist, well drained

Flowering period: Summer

Eventual Height: 5m

Eventual Spread: 6m

Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

Family: Anacardiaceae

Rhus typhina is a deciduous, suckering shrub or tree with an upright habit. It has dense velvety shoots that resemble stags horns. These bear pinnate leaves with 11-31 oblong-lance-shaped dark green leaflets, which turn a brilliant orange red in autumn. It produces yellow green flowers in erect panicles. Since the plant is dioecious fruit only follows these on the female plants. The fruit is in the form of dense clusters of spherical, hairy, crimson red fruit.

Rhus typhina, commonly known as the Staghorn Sumac, has had many uses through the ages, Native to North America it was used as an astringent and a tanning agent due to its high levels of tannins by the native population. They also mixed the berries and leaves with tobacco as a herbal smoking mixture. The fruit is used to make a drink similar to lemonade by soaking the drupes in cool water, rubbing them to extract the essence, straining the liquid through a cotton cloth and sweetening it.

Rhus typhina (19/03/2011, London)

The etymological root of the binomial name Rhus is derived from the ancient Greek ‘roos’ meaning flow possibly referring to the plants milky sap. Typhina meaning antler shaped in reference to the velvety branches.

Rhus typhina may be useful to the landscape architect as a tree/ shrub that will survive most environments. Care should be taken when locating this plant as it suckers readily, therefore planting in grass or schemes where a single clear stemmed tree is required should be avoided.

Ecologically, Rhus typhina attract birds to its furry fruit and pollinating insects with its nectar.

The Royal Horticultural Society have given Rhus typhina their prestigious Award of Garden Merit.

Rhus typhina requires little to no care, if it is to be kept as a shrub and not a small tree it should be pruned to one foot above the ground in February.