Rhus

The genus Sumac (Rhus) includes approximately 250 species of deciduous or evergreen shrubs and rarely trees or tree lianas. These are monoecious or dioecious plants with a height of 0.5 to 12 m. The leaves are usually large alternate, non-pinnate or trifoliate, and in autumn they acquire a bright color. Small, in apical or axillary inflorescences, often unisexual greenish flowers appear in late spring and summer. The fruits are drupe-shaped, often collected in lush copulations. All the species described below are dioecious; most of them are grown for ornamental purposes. The most common species is the fluffy sumac (Rhus typhina, or R. hirta), a shrub with a dark brown rough bark covered trunk. The leaves are pinnate, very long (up to 50 cm), and turn red, orange, purple, and bright yellow in autumn. The flowers are small greenish-yellow pubescent, in dense panicles. Pubescent fruits are collected in lush red-crimson copulas, which remain on the plant for a long time. A very common decorative form is "Dissected", with deeply incised leaves resembling fern leaves, which in autumn acquire an orange and yellow color. Sumac smooth (R. glabra) shrubby species with glabrous twigs and complex smooth pinnate leaves, glaucous on the underside. In autumn, they are bright red. Small flowers - in conical panicles. The fruits are dark red and numerous. Aromatic sumac (R. aromatica, or R. canadensis) is a sprawling shrub. The leaves are trifoliate, large-toothed, and fragrant when ground. Greenish-yellow flowers are collected in small ears, appear before the leaves. Chinese sumac (R. chinensis) is distinguished by unusual decorative complex leaves of arrow-shaped leaves. In autumn, this species also gets a bright color. Sumac (R. coriaria) grows naturally on dry, rocky slopes. It is a deciduous tree (up to 18 m tall), often a shrub; a tanning, dyeing and medicinal crop. The pubescent sumac (R. trichocarpa) has large pinnate leaves, young ones are copper-pink, and orange-red in autumn. The fruit is yellow, drooping. The juice of sumac verniciflua is poisonous, causes burns; this species is used for the manufacture of lacquers.

The genus Sumac (Rhus) includes approximately 250 species of deciduous or evergreen shrubs and rarely trees or tree lianas. These are monoecious or dioecious plants with a height of 0.5 to 12 m. The leaves are usually large alternate, non-pinnate or trifoliate, and in autumn they acquire a bright color. Small, in apical or axillary inflorescences, often unisexual greenish flowers appear in late spring and summer. The fruits are drupe-shaped, often collected in lush copulations. All the species described below are dioecious; most of them are grown for ornamental purposes.

The most common species is the fluffy sumac (Rhus typhina, or R. hirta), a shrub with a dark brown rough bark covered trunk. The leaves are pinnate, very long (up to 50 cm), and turn red, orange, purple, and bright yellow in autumn. The flowers are small greenish-yellow pubescent, in dense panicles. Pubescent fruits are collected in lush red-crimson copulas, which remain on the plant for a long time. A very common decorative form is "Dissected", with deeply incised leaves resembling fern leaves, which in autumn acquire an orange and yellow color.

Sumac smooth (R. glabra) shrubby species with glabrous twigs and complex smooth pinnate leaves, glaucous on the underside. In autumn, they are bright red. Small flowers - in conical panicles. The fruits are dark red and numerous.

Aromatic sumac (R. aromatica, or R. canadensis) is a sprawling shrub. The leaves are trifoliate, large-toothed, and fragrant when ground. Greenish-yellow flowers are collected in small ears, appear before the leaves.

Chinese sumac (R. chinensis) is distinguished by unusual decorative complex leaves of arrow-shaped leaves. In autumn, this species also gets a bright color.

Sumac (R. coriaria) grows naturally on dry, rocky slopes. It is a deciduous tree (up to 18 m tall), often a shrub; a tanning, dyeing and medicinal crop.

The pubescent sumac (R. trichocarpa) has large pinnate leaves, young ones are copper-pink, and orange-red in autumn. The fruit is yellow, drooping.

The juice of sumac verniciflua is poisonous, causes burns; this species is used for the manufacture of lacquers.

Cultivation

Sumac is grown in parks and gardens as ornamental shrubs and trees. These plants are resistant to environmental pollution, well tolerate the conditions of the metropolis. They are planted on a permanent planting site in October in drained dry soil or in March in clay well-moistened land, although any type of soil, even sandy, is suitable. But the autumn color of the foliage is brighter if the bushes are planted in fertile soil. Top dressing is carried out during the growing season with organic fertilizers, rotted manure or compost at the rate of 5 kg/m2. When watering young plants in the spring, a complex mineral fertilizer is added to the water in the amount of 15 g per bucket. In order for some species, such as fluffy sumac and smooth sumac, to form a thick, lush crown, they should be cut off at the end of winter at the root every 2-3 years. Usually, sumac trees are not susceptible to diseases and pest attacks.

Sumac is grown in parks and gardens as ornamental shrubs and trees. These plants are resistant to environmental pollution, well tolerate the conditions of the metropolis. They are planted on a permanent planting site in October in drained dry soil or in March in clay well-moistened land, although any type of soil, even sandy, is suitable. But the autumn color of the foliage is brighter if the bushes are planted in fertile soil. Top dressing is carried out during the growing season with organic fertilizers, rotted manure or compost at the rate of 5 kg/m2. When watering young plants in the spring, a complex mineral fertilizer is added to the water in the amount of 15 g per bucket. In order for some species, such as fluffy sumac and smooth sumac, to form a thick, lush crown, they should be cut off at the end of winter at the root every 2-3 years. Usually, sumac trees are not susceptible to diseases and pest attacks.

Location

They need a place in the open sun.

Temperature

These plants are resistant to both high and low air temperatures; they can withstand temperature drops up to -15-20 °C. Only some species (Chinese sumac) may experience damage to young leaves from late frosts.

Watering

It is only required for young plants after planting in the ground.

Reproduction

It is propagated by seeds and root offspring. In culture, the most common method is cuttings. In July-August, take semi-woody cuttings 15 cm long and plant in a mixture of soil and sand. The minimum temperature should be 16-18 °C, and the humidity is maintained quite high, which is achieved by frequent spraying with water, or the cuttings are covered with plastic material (film). After the formation of roots, the seedlings are transferred to pots one at a time and put for the winter in a closed, unheated room. You can plant in the ground next fall. Other methods: separation of root offspring in autumn and winter or propagation by layers (in spring, the branch is dug into the ground next to the mother plant, and then - after 1-2 years it is separated).

It is propagated by seeds and root offspring. In culture, the most common method is cuttings. In July-August, take semi-woody cuttings 15 cm long and plant in a mixture of soil and sand. The minimum temperature should be 16-18 °C, and the humidity is maintained quite high, which is achieved by frequent spraying with water, or the cuttings are covered with plastic material (film). After the formation of roots, the seedlings are transferred to pots one at a time and put for the winter in a closed, unheated room. You can plant in the ground next fall.

Other methods: separation of root offspring in autumn and winter or propagation by layers (in spring, the branch is dug into the ground next to the mother plant, and then - after 1-2 years it is separated).

Acquisition

Sumac trees are easy to find in specialized nurseries and gardening centers. Since they do not suffer from transplanting, you can buy already large copies.