Sumac Identification Guide in the US (Genus Rhus)

[@scottiehildebrandt3255]

Extremely high quality, thank you so much for putting this together.

[@Andrew_the_Arborist]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@CSWRB]

This video was so informative! Thank you! You helped me understand that I have some winged sumac growing in my yard.

[@canislupusminecraft2670]

I live in East Tennessee and I just found some smooth sumac in my yard. I already identified it by looking at inaturalist, but this video helped me make sure I identified it correctly.

[@grandwonder5858]

Dude, you need to do one showing us how to identify Poison Sumac! That's the one that got me bad a few years ago when I went fishing! It sent me to the doctor as it completely shut both of my eyes! I scoured all over KZbin, but have yet to find a video that show close-up shots of Poison Sumac. So, if you can please do a video on Poison Sumac! I would appreciate it very much!

[@Hj61S827]

Literally the only video result covering Rhus microphylla, I just found on my land in the extreme SE corner of Az. Google image search identified the budding flowers, thanks

[@andrewkrahn2629]

there's at least one more non-native sumac in the US: at least in Phoenix they use an African sumac from South Africa as a landscaping tree. It has some of the densest, most interlocked wood I've ever encountered.

[@brianpowell5082]

I very much enjoyed this video on Sumacs! Very informative and interesting! I live in S.W. California, and I am familiar with Rhus ovata, Rhus integrifolia, and Rhus aromatica, the former 2 evergreen, leathery leaved sumacs, and the latter, a brilliant red-scarlet fall color! I see Rhus aromatica as being synonymous with Rhus trilobata in most of the texts and field guides I have, and consider them more or less the same!! I do see Rhus ovata x integrifolia quite often in coastal sage scrub and chaparral at lower elevations. And there is another evergreen sumac relative called Laurel Sumac (Malosma laurina), which used to be classified as Rhus laurina decades ago. It also has "taco leaves", but the leaf blades are thinner, lighter green, and narrower, and the often large shrub gives off a pungent aroma. I have been very lucky to see Rhus ovata, Rhus integrifolia, and Malsoma laurina in the same area which really highlights their similarities and differences! Great video!!!

[@Andrew_the_Arborist]

Very cool, thanks a lot for your comment! I haven't seen most of the west coast species, since I'm on the east coast, so I appreciate your input. I am unfamiliar with Laurel sumac but after a quick Google search, they definitely have a lot of similarities!

[@brianpowell5082]

@@Andrew_the_Arborist I grew up with Laurel Sumac, Lemonade Sumac, and Sugar Sumac, so I have a deep appreciation and love for them. I have lived in New Jersey and have seen Staghorn Sumac, and have seen Smooth Sumac in Arkansas, and they form such big thickets especially in disturbed areas and forest edges. My sumacs out west usually form dense shrubs in the coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats, and sometimes as understory shrubs in oak woodlands.

[@renatara9026]

Yes, I was also hoping to find information here about poison sumac. Also which one are edible or not. This information is missing from this video. Maybe you can make another one when you talk about these subjects Thank you.

[@NickLong217]

Hi, nice video! I was wondering how Poison Sumac plays into all of this. I've read that it used to be classified in the rhus genus, but has since been reclassified.

[@Andrew_the_Arborist]

Thanks, Nick! I don't know too much about Poison Sumac other than that it's in the same genus as poison ivy and oak. I can see why it was classified in the genus Rhus at first, though!

[@brianpowell5082]

Poison Sumac, Poison Oak, and Poison Ivy have been reassigned into Toxicodendron, likely due to their urushiol content in its sap which is lacking in Rhus (some people are still sensitive to Rhus sap and may have somewhat allergic reactions too). Another sumac in s.w. California, Laurel Sumac used to be Rhus laurina, but is now Malosma laurina

[@CSWRB]

There were beautiful blooms which were covered by bees, but there was no fruit after my winged sumac bloomed. The blooms just fell off after they flowered. Could it be that the plant is a male?

[@happyhappy7785]

Vandan pranam namskar thank you

[@jamaly77]

You are not allowed to handle (sell, plant, etc.) staghorn sumac in Switzerland. One of only a dozen plants.

[@angelabaiers5055]

I have a tree of Heaven that has been horrible to get rid of...now I have two more of them! in different areas of my yard. How do I remove them effectively? I cut them down. They are growing back.

[@Andrew_the_Arborist]

How large are they? They are very prolific root-suckerers, so they will sprout up new shoots from the roots if you cut them down. Keep cutting the shoots and eventually the roots will be exhausted and the plant will die. You can also inject the cut stump with herbicides to kill the plant / roots!

[@johncordey2769]

Just bought fisetin which made from Rhus Sylvestris...is this safe? Very little information on the internet.

[@iC0NB0Y]

I'm not very familiar with Rhus sylvestris, unfortunately. Apparently it's a synonym for Toxicodendron sylvestre, which is the same genus as the poison ivies and oaks.

[@g-pain5062]

What's up?