Rhus typhina (Staghorn sumac)

Rhus typhina L.

Datisca hirta L. nom. utique rej.

Rhus hirta (L.) Sudw. nom. utique rej.

Rhus typhina L. var. laciniata Alph. Wood

Datisca hirta L.

Rhus hirta (L.) Sudw.

Staghorn sumac

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Sapindales	Includes citrus; maples, horse-chestnuts, lychees and rambutans; mangos and cashews; frankincense and myrrh; mahogany and neem
Family	Anacardiaceae	Cashew or sumac family
Genus	Rhus	From Greek rhous, ancient name for sumac
Species	typhina	From Linnaeus’ and Ericus Torner’s description: “Ramis hirtis uti typhi cervini,” meaning “the branches are rough like antlers in velvet”

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:

Rhus typhina on Missouriplants.com

Rhus typhina on iamcountryside.com

Rhus typhina on plants.ces.ncsu.edu

Rhus typhina at the North Dakota State University Agriculture and University Extension

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

Rhus typhina at the Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Rhus typhina on plants.ces.ncsu.edu

Rhus typhina at the University of Connecticut Plant Database

Rhus typhina at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Rhus typhina on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Rhus typhina 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

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)

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 Center, 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)

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 25 May 2020.

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)

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

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 × 15" (26 × 39 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

Female flowers. · 6/8/2010 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 7" (12 × 16 cm)

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

Range: Zones 3-9:

About this map...