Rhus typhina L.

Staghorn sumac

About plant names...

Staghorn sumac is native to eastern North America.

Staghorn sumac is a very common plant in its range, often visible on roadsides, at the boundaries of yards, in disturbed or poor soils. The aphid galls on some of these photos are fairly uncommon, and they are definitely not fruits. Aphids secrete chemicals that cause the plant to create a custom aphid nursery.

Identification: Staghorn sumac is a small tree, commonly 10' (3 m) tall, up to 30' (9.1 m). Leaves up to 24" (60 cm) long are composed of serrated leaflets 3-5" (7.6-12 cm) long. Younger stems and branches are very hairy, mature ones are not. Flowers are greenish-white, not very conspicuous. The fruits are dense, dark red conical clusters, pointed on the top, velvety-looking, 8-10" (20-25 cm) long. These are easily visible from a distance, remaining on the tree throughout the winter in many cases, making this a strong identifying feature. In the fall, the foliage is bright orange-red.

Edibility: The red sumac fruits can be made into a cold drink, similar to pink lemonade.^[1][2] (Staghorn sumac's relative, poison sumac, is extremely dangerous, sort of poison ivy on steroids. But its berries are white, hanging in small groups, so these plants can't be confused.)

Online References:

Missouriplants.com

The Countryside & Small Stock Journal

Plants.ces.ncsu.edu

The North Dakota State University Agriculture and University Extension

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Plants.ces.ncsu.edu

The University of Connecticut Plant Database

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

in Paghat's Garden

References:

Peterson, Lee Allen, Peterson Field Guides: Edible Wild Plants of Eastern/Central North America, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977, p. 186

7/3/2023 · Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Penn­syl­vania

Leaf undersides, showing aphid galls · 8/19/2018 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 5" (20 × 13 cm)

Leaf undersides, showing aphid galls · 8/19/2018 · Townsend Wildlife Management Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)

7/18/2010 · Great Brook Farm State Park, Carlisle, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 9" (14 × 22 cm)

7/22/2021 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 3 × 5" (8.4 × 12 cm)

9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 22 × 15" (56 × 37 cm)

8/7/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 21 × 14" (52 × 34 cm)

Male flowers. · 6/22/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

6/19/2011 · New Jer­sey
≈ 7 × 11" (18 × 27 cm)

11/17/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

Berries can last all winter. · 11/29/2008 · Yellow Trail from Pearl Hill State Park to Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3 × 2' (1 × 0.7 m)

¹See Peterson, Lee Allen, Peterson Field Guides Edible Wild Plants of Eastern/Central North America, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977, p. 186

²Recipe is on countrysidemag.com

Rhus typhina description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 7 Sep 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

7/31/2016 · Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

9/1/2023 · Josephine Newman Sanctuary, Georgetown, Maine

7/9/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 3½ × 5" (9.2 × 13 cm)

Male flowers. · 6/21/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 10 × 14" (26 × 35 cm)

7/15/2012 · Slipway Restaurant, Thomaston, Maine
≈ 6 × 9" (15 × 23 cm)

A broken branch · 8/8/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 6 × 7" (14 × 18 cm)

9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

9/20/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 3½ × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)

Male flowers. · 6/21/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

Aphid gall · 9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

10/1/2017 · Burns Hill Trail, Burns-Holland Farm, Milford, New Hamp­shire

9/7/2021 · Kennebec River Bridge, Bowdoinham, Maine
≈ 4½ × 7" (11 × 16 cm)

Female flowers. · 7/29/2023 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

6/22/2016 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Range: Zones 3-9:

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