Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac

Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac

(Rhus typhina 'Laciniata')

Anacardiaceae (Cashew Family)

▲ ▼ clump of trees

▲ foliage

Rhus tyhina ‘Laciniata:’ Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac

Location on campus: in raised bed southeast of Plaster Student Union, near northeast corner of Carrington Hall; in retention basin area at corner of Grand and National, near east end of Lot 24.

• leaves deciduous, alternate, pinnately compound with 13-27 leaflets; leaf is 1-2' long, each leaflet is 2-5" long and 1-2" wide; light green above and glaucous below; in species, leaflets have serrate margins
• ‘Laciniata’ cultivar leaflets are deeply lobed, often bipinnately compound, to appear fern-like; bright orange fall color
• stems are stout, fuzzy pubescent (like a stag horn), reddish-orange to brown; pith is large and brown; stems aromatic when broken
• bark is grayish, lightly fissured/plated on older stems
• fruit is attractive crimson terminal clusters of drupes--lemon-tasting tea can be made from them
• grows 15-20' tall with flattish crown, can spread by root suckers to form large colony
• prefers full sun and well-drained soils to dry soils; does not tolerate wet soils
• fast growth from new suckers, slow growth on existing stems
• species is native to northwestern Missouri
• other Sumac species for landscaping use:
  • Shining Sumac, Dwarf Sumac, Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina): has leafy wings on rachis of leaf and shiny leaf surfaces; bright red fall color; similar to staghorn sumac in growth habit
  • Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra): similar to staghorn sumac, but less pubescent, more glaucous stems; bright red/orange/purple fall color
  • Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina): regular species with serrate margins and pubescent new growth twigs
  • first two above are native to Missouri