Clark's Oregon Wildflower Blog: Sumac

Staghorn Sumac near Amber Glen - 10/19/2014

One of my favorite Fall foliage plants is Sumac. It's more of a tall shrub than a tree, and it can be seen growing as a no-maintenance plant in freeway landscapes, office parks, or in some suburban yards. There are over 35 species of Sumac that grow in North America, but most of the "ornamental" ones around here are Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) or Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra). You can easily spot the bright red and yellow leaves on these sumac this time of year. In fact, the word "sumac" comes from ancient Latin and Arabic and means "red." The common Staghorn name comes from the tiny hairy covering on the stems that resemble male deer antlers.

We had always heard that these plants are poisonous, but they are not. The confusion stems from an Eastern shrub that is called Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) and is toxic. It is more toxic than its notorious relatives, poison ivy and poison oak. The leaves of Poison Sumac can cause skin irritation, and burning them creates a highly toxic smoke that can destroy your lungs. Lucky for us, this species grows only in the Eastern U.S., in wet or boggy soil.

News to me, is that the non-toxic Rhus Sumacs are used in a wide variety of human pursuits, such as spices, flavoring for drinks, dyes, and tanning agents. You can find powdered sumac berry spice online in familiar branded bottles. In olden days (as in medieval days), the berries and leaves were used for treating various ailments. Staghorn Sumac is known to be a powerful antioxidant. And in the really old days, as in fossils, an extinct species of Sumac has been found just across the river in Washington!

The showy Sumacs have not gone unnoticed by poets either. I especially like this one by Rebecca Askew:

As Fall Begins

When the sumac leaves quietly turn red,

And autumn lingers, heavy, in the air,

Summer surrenders its last loving thread.

The veins in the leaves, have both dried and bled.

Summer's sun would still warm, but does not dare,

When the sumac leaves quietly turn red...

Follow the link below to read the rest of this engaging poem that captures the season so well. (And special thanks to Rebecca for letting me use it here! You can browse her other poems through the link as well.)

Our local sumacs typically bloom in early June with a greenish-yellow flower. Later, they produce "drupes," which are the tall red cones that are brush-like fruits that break open easily to cast the seeds about. The sumacs spread by seed and by new shoots from roots. So when you are out scouting for Fall color this year, keep your eyes peeled for these colorful shrubs.