The Sumacs
Rhus spp.
Family: Anachardiaceae
Sumacs grow in subtropical and temperate regions throughout every continent except Antarctica and South America.
The dried fruits of some species are ground to produce a tangy, crimson spice popular in many countries. Fruits are also used to make a traditional "pink lemonade" beverage by steeping them in water, straining to remove the hairs that may irritate the mouth or throat, sometimes adding sweeteners such as honey or sugar. Sumac's tart flavor comes from high amounts of malic acid.
The fruits of many species in our region were used to make a lemonade-like drink that helped people cool off in hot summer. There are an impressive number of traditional medicinal uses, especially for skin ailments, asthma and other respiratory conditions, and as an emetic.
Photo of Rhus virens var. virens by stefaniey on iNaturalist
The fruits (drupes) of Rhus coriaria are ground into a reddish-purple powder used as a spice in Middle Eastern cuisine to add a tart, lemony taste to salads or meat. In Arab cuisine, it is used as a garnish on meze dishes such as hummus and tashi, it is also commonly added to falafel. Syria uses the spice also, it is one of the main ingredients of Kubah Sumakieh in Aleppo of Syria, it is added to salads in the Levant, as well as being one of the main ingredients in the Palestinian dish musakhan. In Afghan, Armenian, Iraqi, Iranian and Mizrahi cuisines, sumac is added to rice or kebab. In Armenian, Azerbaijani, Central Asian, Syrian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Palestinian, Lebanese, Turkish and Kurdish cuisines, it is added to salads, kebab and lahmajoun. Rhus coriaria is used in the spice mixture za'atar.
Many of our native species have the spicy, malic acid flavor and could be used to make into sumac spice.
There are 7 species native to Arizona.
The word sumac traces its etymology from Old French sumac (13th century), from Mediaeval Latin sumach, from Arabic summāq, from Syriac summāqa - meaning "red". The generic name Rhus derives from Ancient Greek rhous, meaning "sumac", of unknown etymology; the suggestion that it is connected with the verb rheō, "to flow", is now rejected by scholars.
Rhus aromatica
Fragrant Sumac
These are deciduous wide shrubs, growing up to 6’ high and 10’ wide in favorable conditions. Usually much smaller in our region. Leaves turn orange, yellow, red during fall. Aromatic flowers in spring produce edible orange-red berries.
Part sun in our area, with moderate water, good drainage, hardy to -40°F.
Fruits loved by birds and other animals. Larval food for the splendid royal silkmoth (Citheronia splendens), several Geometer moths (family Geometridae), several owlet moths (family Notodontidae), and the spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon).
Compare to Rhus trilobata—these are very similar and sometimes grouped under the same species. Rhus aromatica has a more “pleasant” aroma to the crushed leaves. The fruit of Rhus aromatica are much more pubescent than R. trilobata. The taxonomy of these taxa are still unresolved—sometimes trilobata is considered a variety of aromatica, other times it is considered its own species. Genetic work needs to be done on these plants.
The species name, aromatica, means fragrant, referring to the foliage.
Rhus glabra
Littleleaf Sumac
This colony-forming smooth sumac is a 10-20 ft. shrub with short, crooked, leaning trunks and picturesque branches. The deciduous leaves become extremely colorful in early fall. Yellow-green flowers are followed by bright-red, hairy berries in erect, pyramidal clusters which persist throughout winter.
As with all Rhus species, the flowers are very important for native bees.
The fruits are edible.
Found in rich soils in oak and ponderosa pine woodlands, in canyons and riparian zones, often forming thickets, from 3,500-7,000 ft. This is the only shrub or tree species native to all 48 contiguous states, as well as in Canada and northern Mexico.
The species name, glabra, means smooth or hairless probably referring to the leaves.
Rhus kearneyi
Littleleaf Sumac
Evergreen shrub to 10-15+’ tall, often smaller, especially in Arizona. The foliage is dark green with red petioles. This is a very attractive but rare plant to find in the trade. The flowers grow in creamy white clusters and bloom in March. Sticky red fruits follow.
Full to part sun, moderate water with good drainage, hardy to about 20°F.
This plant is important to certain species of native bees.
Fruits are used by humans, birds, and other animals.
This species is mostly found in Baja California, but is also in the United States where it is limited in distribution to the southwest corner of the state in southern Yuma County, Tinajas Altas.
The species epithet "kearneyi" is named in honor of Thomas Henry Kearney. Thomas Kearney, along with Robert H. Peebles wrote "Arizona Flora", a classic botanical reference (still widely used today).
Rhus lanceaolata
Prairie Flame Sumac
Giant, deciduous shrub, growing almost 20’ tall and wide though often much smaller in our region. Foliage turns scarlet in fall before dropping. Clusters of creamy white flowers are followed by hairy red-orange, edible berries.
Part sun, moderate water with good drainage, hardy to -20°F.
Fruits used by humans, birds, and other animals. Larval food plant for the Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus) and the Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops).
Found on rocky hillsides in limestone and calcareous soils from southern Oklahoma through north, central, and west Texas to New Mexico and south to Puebla in central Mexico.
Found on gravelly soils and on rocky slopes, on sandstone, limestone, and granitic parent material from 3,500-6,500 ft. in southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, Texas, southern Oklahoma; south into central Mexico.
The species name microphylla refers to the relatively smaller leaves (for a sumac).
Rhus microphylla
Littleleaf Sumac
Deciduous shrub goring up to 8’ tall and 12’ wide. Tiny white flowers appear before the leaves come back, which become orange edible berries later.
Full to part sun, moderate water with good drainage, hardy to -10°F.
This plant is important to certain species of native bees.
Fruits are used by humans, birds, and other animals.
Found on gravelly soils and on rocky slopes, on sandstone, limestone, and granitic parent material from 3,500-6,500 ft. in southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, Texas, southern Oklahoma; south into central Mexico.
The species name microphylla refers to the relatively smaller leaves (for a sumac).
Rhus Muelleri
Mueller’s Sumac
Very little is known about this species. It is evergreen, and grows at least 6’ tall. The leaves are large, and otherwise it flowers and fruits like other Rhus species. We occasionally grow this species.
Part sun, moderate water with good drainage. Hardiness unknown but probably hardy at least into the low 20s°F, probably lower.
Native to the Mexican Plateau and Sierra Madre Oriental, primarily in dry shrubland or desert biomes in Nuevo Leon and Coahuila.
Rhus ovata
Sugar Sumac
Giant, evergreen shrub growing to about 15x15’ though not always this large at our elevations. Nectar rich flowers are followed by sticky, red berries.
Grow in full to part sun, moderate water with good drainage, hardy to 10° F.
Fruits are consumed by people, birds, and other animals. Larval food plant for the bizarre Caloptilia ovatiella moth (no there is no common name), the Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus), the Fruit-Tree Leafroller Moth (Archips argyrospila), the Common Eupithacia (Eupithecia miserulata), the Spotted Dantana (Datana perspicua), and the Walter's Silkmoth (Saturnia walterorum).
As with most of our native Rhus species, the fruits are edible.
Found on open rocky hillsides from 1,500-6,500 ft. in California, Arizona, and Baja California.
The species name ovata means ovate, in reference to the leaves
Rhus trilobata
Sugar Sumac
Upright-growing shrub reaching about 10’ tall. White flowers March through June, followed by sticky berries. Plants turn shades of yellow, orange, and red in fall.
Part sun in our area, with moderate water, good drainage, hardy to -40°F.
Fruits loved by birds and other animals. Larval food for the splendid royal silkmoth (Citheronia splendens), several Geometer moths (family Geometridae), several owlet moths (family Notodontidae), and the spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon).
Fruits are edible.
The species name trilobata means three-lobed, referring to the leaves.
Rhus virens
Evergreen Sumac
Evergreen shrubs growing to about 8’ tall and 10’ wide. You mostly find Rhus virens var. virens in the trade, but sometimes you find Rhus virens var. choriophylla which is our Arizona native variety based on fewer, larger, and glabrous leaflets. Flowers of the Arizona variety also show up on auxiliary branches not just terminal. Both are fine shrubs for screens.
Grow in full to part sun, moderate to low water when established, good drainage is a must. Hardy to 0°F.
Flowers attract nectar-feeding insects, fruits are eaten by birds and other animals. This plant is particularly important to some species of native bees. Probably larval host to similar species to other Rhus species.
Dry, often rocky hillsides, steep slopes, and canyons, upper edge of the Chihuahuan Desert to semidesert grassland, chaparral, oak woodland, and as understory along washes and riparian zones in southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, western Texas and northern Mexico.
Photo of Rhus virens var. choriophylla by Patrick Alexander, SEINET