Poison Sumac: Rash, Pictures, and Treatment

Skin contact with the oil of a poison sumac plant leads to an itchy, burning, allergic skin reaction. You can’t contract the rash from another person, but the plant’s oil can transfer from your clothing.

Hiking and biking in the parks and woodlands are popular outdoor activities, but some native plants can quickly turn your outing into a miserable experience.

One such plant is poison sumac, a deciduous, woody shrub or small tree. Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) inhabits swamps and other wet areas as well as pinewoods and hardwood forests.

Poison sumac is considered more allergenic than both poison ivy and poison oak. These are other well-known plants that are also in the Toxicodendron genus of the sumac family.

Poison sumac releases an oil known as urushiol when the plant is bruised or damaged. Skin contact with the oil of a poison sumac plant causes an allergic skin reaction known as contact dermatitis. All parts of a poison sumac plant are poisonous and the oils remain active even after the plant dies.

Symptoms of a poison sumac rash appear 8–48 hours after exposure and can last for weeks. Some people are more sensitive to the plants and will have harsher symptoms. The rash itself is not contagious, but the oils can be spread if they remain on the skin, clothing, or shoes.

Symptoms of a poison sumac rash include:

• itchiness
• burning sensation on the skin
• redness
• swelling
• watery blisters

Symptoms can interfere with a person’s day-to-day activities depending on where the rash occurs on the body and how much it spreads. People who work outside in the woods or swamp areas are particularly susceptible to poison sumac rash.

Poison sumac is found in swamps, wetlands, pinewoods, and hardwood forests. It can be found along the eastern and southern quadrants of the United States. Poison sumac is particularly abundant along the Mississippi River and swampy areas of the Southeast.

Poison sumac is characterized by:

• reddish stems
• leaves that consist of 7–13 leaflets arranged in pairs with a single leaflet at the end
• elongated leaflets with a smooth, velvety texture, smooth edges, and a V-shaped point
• bright orange leaves in the early spring that later become dark green and glossy, and then turn red-orange in the fall
• small, yellow-green flowers in clusters
• ivory-white to gray fruits that are loosely packed

Similar plants

Poison sumac is more similar to poison ivy and poison oak than it is to other sumacs. Winged sumac (Rhus copallinum) looks similar to poison sumac, but is nonallergenic (doesn’t cause an allergic reaction). Winged sumac can be distinguished from poison sumac by its 9–23 leaflets and red berries. The most widespread sumac — staghorn sumac — is non-poisonous. Staghorn sumac has bright orange or red berries growing at the edge of its stems. Its leaves also have saw-toothed edges, unlike poison sumac. While poison sumac likes to grow in wetlands, most other sumacs prefer drier areas with well-drained soils.

Poison ivy and poison oak are two other commonly known poisonous plants that can cause a rash, but they look different from poison sumac. Poison ivy typically has three shiny green leaves (or red in the fall) budding from one small stem. Poison oak also typically comes in leaves of three.

If you’re exposed to poison sumac, the first step is to remove the oil from your skin. Don’t wait until a reaction appears on your skin to take action; a rash could take hours to develop.

Wash any exposed parts thoroughly with soap and cool water. Don’t use warm water, as this could cause the oils to spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends rinsing with rubbing alcohol, specialized poison plant washes, degreasing soap (such as dishwashing soap), or detergent, along with lots of water. Take special care to clean under the fingernails to avoid spreading the oil to the eyes and other parts of the body. Clean all contaminated clothing, shoes, and gear with detergent several times.

There is no cure for the rash. You’ll have to wait for the symptoms to pass. There are many over-the-counter remedies to help with your symptoms in the meantime, including:

• calamine lotion
• hydrocortisone creams
• topical anesthetics, such as menthol or benzocaine
• oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

You can also take an oatmeal bath to help relieve the itching.

If the rash is on the face or genitals, spreads over a large part (30–50 percent) of the body, or you have a high fever (over 101°F), see your doctor. A doctor may prescribe oral or strong topical steroids to help reduce inflammation. You should also make a visit to your doctor if you think your rash has become infected due to scratching. Treatment will usually involve antibiotics.

Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room immediately if your eyes swell shut or you have difficulty breathing.

Scratching the skin can lead to an infection. Symptoms of an infection include redness, pain, pus, and oozing from the blisters.

If the oil is inhaled, which may occur if the plant is burned, it can lead to a dangerous lung irritation. This can be fatal. Symptoms of lung irritation include coughing, difficulty breathing, and wheezing.

Poison sumac is one of the most toxic plants in the United States, causing a horrible skin reaction that can persist for weeks. Thankfully, poison sumac is much less common than poison oak and poison ivy.

If you work or spend a lot of time in wetlands, swamps, or shady hardwood forests, being able to identify local types of poison sumac throughout the seasons is key to avoiding exposure. If you do come in contact with poison sumac, clean the area immediately with cool, soapy water and avoid scratching. as this could lead to an infection.

Poison Sumac: Rash, Pictures, and Treatment

Skin contact with the oil of a poison sumac plant leads to an itchy, burning, allergic skin reaction. You can’t contract the rash from another person, but the plant’s oil can transfer from your clothing.

Hiking and biking in the parks and woodlands are popular outdoor activities, but some native plants can quickly turn your outing into a miserable experience.

One such plant is poison sumac, a deciduous, woody shrub or small tree. Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) inhabits swamps and other wet areas as well as pinewoods and hardwood forests.

Poison sumac is considered more allergenic than both poison ivy and poison oak. These are other well-known plants that are also in the Toxicodendron genus of the sumac family.

Poison sumac releases an oil known as urushiol when the plant is bruised or damaged. Skin contact with the oil of a poison sumac plant causes an allergic skin reaction known as contact dermatitis. All parts of a poison sumac plant are poisonous and the oils remain active even after the plant dies.

Symptoms of a poison sumac rash appear 8–48 hours after exposure and can last for weeks. Some people are more sensitive to the plants and will have harsher symptoms. The rash itself is not contagious, but the oils can be spread if they remain on the skin, clothing, or shoes.

Symptoms of a poison sumac rash include:

• itchiness
• burning sensation on the skin
• redness
• swelling
• watery blisters

Symptoms can interfere with a person’s day-to-day activities depending on where the rash occurs on the body and how much it spreads. People who work outside in the woods or swamp areas are particularly susceptible to poison sumac rash.

Poison sumac is found in swamps, wetlands, pinewoods, and hardwood forests. It can be found along the eastern and southern quadrants of the United States. Poison sumac is particularly abundant along the Mississippi River and swampy areas of the Southeast.

Poison sumac is characterized by:

• reddish stems
• leaves that consist of 7–13 leaflets arranged in pairs with a single leaflet at the end
• elongated leaflets with a smooth, velvety texture, smooth edges, and a V-shaped point
• bright orange leaves in the early spring that later become dark green and glossy, and then turn red-orange in the fall
• small, yellow-green flowers in clusters
• ivory-white to gray fruits that are loosely packed

Similar plants

Poison sumac is more similar to poison ivy and poison oak than it is to other sumacs. Winged sumac (Rhus copallinum) looks similar to poison sumac, but is nonallergenic (doesn’t cause an allergic reaction). Winged sumac can be distinguished from poison sumac by its 9–23 leaflets and red berries. The most widespread sumac — staghorn sumac — is non-poisonous. Staghorn sumac has bright orange or red berries growing at the edge of its stems. Its leaves also have saw-toothed edges, unlike poison sumac. While poison sumac likes to grow in wetlands, most other sumacs prefer drier areas with well-drained soils.

Poison ivy and poison oak are two other commonly known poisonous plants that can cause a rash, but they look different from poison sumac. Poison ivy typically has three shiny green leaves (or red in the fall) budding from one small stem. Poison oak also typically comes in leaves of three.

If you’re exposed to poison sumac, the first step is to remove the oil from your skin. Don’t wait until a reaction appears on your skin to take action; a rash could take hours to develop.

Wash any exposed parts thoroughly with soap and cool water. Don’t use warm water, as this could cause the oils to spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends rinsing with rubbing alcohol, specialized poison plant washes, degreasing soap (such as dishwashing soap), or detergent, along with lots of water. Take special care to clean under the fingernails to avoid spreading the oil to the eyes and other parts of the body. Clean all contaminated clothing, shoes, and gear with detergent several times.

There is no cure for the rash. You’ll have to wait for the symptoms to pass. There are many over-the-counter remedies to help with your symptoms in the meantime, including:

• calamine lotion
• hydrocortisone creams
• topical anesthetics, such as menthol or benzocaine
• oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

You can also take an oatmeal bath to help relieve the itching.

If the rash is on the face or genitals, spreads over a large part (30–50 percent) of the body, or you have a high fever (over 101°F), see your doctor. A doctor may prescribe oral or strong topical steroids to help reduce inflammation. You should also make a visit to your doctor if you think your rash has become infected due to scratching. Treatment will usually involve antibiotics.

Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room immediately if your eyes swell shut or you have difficulty breathing.

Scratching the skin can lead to an infection. Symptoms of an infection include redness, pain, pus, and oozing from the blisters.

If the oil is inhaled, which may occur if the plant is burned, it can lead to a dangerous lung irritation. This can be fatal. Symptoms of lung irritation include coughing, difficulty breathing, and wheezing.

Poison sumac is one of the most toxic plants in the United States, causing a horrible skin reaction that can persist for weeks. Thankfully, poison sumac is much less common than poison oak and poison ivy.

If you work or spend a lot of time in wetlands, swamps, or shady hardwood forests, being able to identify local types of poison sumac throughout the seasons is key to avoiding exposure. If you do come in contact with poison sumac, clean the area immediately with cool, soapy water and avoid scratching. as this could lead to an infection.

What is Sumakh (Sumak)? Extremely Healthy Spice

Everything you wanted to know about the oriental spice called sumac. What is it, where does it come from, where is it added and why do Iranians sprinkle meat on it.

Sumac is one of the most popular spices in oriental cuisine. She comes from Syria. Hence its name, which is translated from Syriac as red. The taste is sour and without any pronounced aroma. The color is red-brown, even crimson. Sometimes it is used instead of lemon juice, tamarind and vinegar, and the sumac tree itself is called the vinegar tree. Sometimes they even make sour lemonade. Not from lemons, but from sumac.

What is sumac?

Sumac is a spice made from ground berries of the sumac tree. There are over 250 species of these trees. Almost all are suitable for cooking spices. These trees mainly grow throughout the Mediterranean. Some varieties also grow in North America, although they are not prepared as a spice there, because. the fruits of those species are very similar to other poisonous fruits.

Sometimes sumac is confused with barberry or attributed to its family. This is mistake.

You must have met sumacs. In Israel, in shuarma stalls, it is sprinkled with fresh onion salad. Not only for taste, but also for the benefit of the body.

Sumac berries, not yet ground. In shop Tavlinski

Useful properties of sumac

Sumac has excellent antioxidant properties, which is highly valued both in medicine and in cosmetology. In folk medicine, sumac is used to treat diarrhea, rheumatism, paralysis, gout, and the common cold.

Sumac spice can be diluted in water and drunk to help with scurvy, tumors and dysentery. Also, sumac is able to cleanse the body of toxins and harmful toxins, normalize the digestive system, especially in diabetes.

But, the most important advantage of sumac is that it helps to balance the level of cholesterol in the blood and prevents fat from settling in the vessels. Even cardiologists advise using sumac.

Here in Israel, immigrants from Iran, on whose table there is always a lot of fatty meat, always sprinkle meat with sumac. And the Arabs also use it, sprinkling it on meat and adding it to salads.

Sumac on the market. But this is not a quality bag.

Where is sumac added?

Sumac is very popular in Syrian, Lebanese, Turkish, Iranian and Israeli cuisines. It can also be found in Caucasian cuisine, where it is commonly used as a condiment for kebabs.

Israeli cuisine uses sumac for marinades, soups, salads, meat and fish dishes. This spice pairs wonderfully with other oriental spices such as thyme, nutmeg, coriander, zira, sesame cloves and others. It can be used both raw (in most cases) and stewed, boiled and fried.

In Israel, for example, they prepare a salad of fresh onion rings generously seasoned with sumac and olive oil. Also, they fill it with cucumber salad with dill. Sumac can be sprinkled on labaneh (Arabic yogurt), sprinkled on avocados, added to tahini and many other dishes.

Usually sumac replaces lemon juice for salads. Although lemon is also very healthy, so you can take half the right amount of lemon and supplement it with sumac.

Be careful!

Do not buy powdered sumac, and especially not one that has white grains that make sumac a lilac-pink color (as in the photo of sumac on the market – this is bad sumac). Thus, unscrupulous sellers and manufacturers dilute it with garbage, and compensate for the acid with citric acid.

Quality sumac

A good sumac should look like this photo – not ground into a powder, but in the form of flakes. And the color is more purple.

Labane (Arab yogurt) bread with onion and sumac

Fucaccia with chicken breasts in sumac

Fish kebabs with puree and labane with sumac
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Sumac tree – rules of care, growing in the garden, video

How to properly care for Sumac

The presence of a large number of young shoots greatly complicates the process of caring for the plant. Young animals must be constantly disposed of and this causes particular difficulties. In addition to the destruction of young animals, the following actions must be taken:

Watering. The tree is not afraid of dry periods, but in rainless summers it is worth watering at least a couple of times a week. Excessive watering is contraindicated. The soil should be moist, not flooded. A moderate amount of water promotes good flowering and a healthy sheen on the leaves. Feed. Desirable, but not required. The tree develops well without fertilizers. The maximum allowable number of top dressings during the calendar year is 1 time. Mineral supplements are used. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers should be excluded, as they negatively affect the development of the plant. Excessive feeding will lead to a negative result, up to the death of the tree. crop. In its natural habitat, sumac grows up to 10 meters. At sub-zero temperatures, the upper branches may freeze. It is imperative to free the plant from dead branches. Instead of remote ones, new ones will quickly grow. In early spring, before the start of sap production, sanitary pruning of damaged and dry branches is carried out. Loosen the soil

The procedure is carried out carefully so as not to violate the integrity of the root system. In the absence of mulching, the earth around the tree trunk must be loosened

Regularly deal with weeds growing around the plant. Prepare for winter. Only young plants need shelter. For this purpose, use spanbond or spruce branches. Adult specimens are not afraid of frosts down to -30 degrees. With age, the root system grows strongly and the plant does not care about frost. Frostbitten branches are removed. Instead, they appear young and healthy. Fight diseases and pests. Exceptional cases when the tree becomes ill. Even hares do not feast on bark. Excessive humidity may cause fungal diseases (powdery mildew). Fungal spores can affect not only the plant, but also the ground. A whitish coating appears on the leaves, which spreads quickly, creeping onto the branches and trunk. If no action is taken, the tree will die. First you need to remove all damaged parts of the plant. Then, in a specialized store, buy special chemicals and treat the affected areas with them. After that, regularly destroy weeds next to Sumac. Constantly carefully examine the branches in order to identify a fungal infection and promptly destroy it.

How to deal with pests and diseases when growing sumac?

Due to the fact that all parts of the vinegar tree are filled with a large number of highly active elements, the plant is rarely attacked by pests, and diseases rarely disturb it. It can be noted that with an excess of moisture in the soil, sumac can be affected by fungal diseases, among which are powdery mildew and root rot.

If a whitish coating is noticed on the leaves, they drooped and began to fall off before the time had come, then it is recommended to remove all damaged parts of the sumac and then treat with fungicidal preparations, such as Fundazol or Bordeaux liquid. After this, you should check the irrigation regime, in which the soil will not be waterlogged, since the adult acetic acid tolerates drought easily

In the future, it is only important not to deviate from the above rules of agricultural technology.

Read more about diseases and pests in the cultivation of Indian lilac

What kind of plant and where does it come from

Stag sumac (R. typhina) belongs to the sumac family and is a low multi-stemmed tree or shrub. In nature, it grows up to 10–12 m in height. Garden forms rarely exceed 4-6 m.

The plant is native to the eastern parts of North America, where it grows in abundance on dry edges of deciduous forests, roadsides, and low mountain slopes. Sumac came to Europe at the beginning of the 17th century and was immediately liked by gardeners with its unusual appearance.

In spring, the plant sends out thick shoots covered with soft brownish-gray down. They resemble young deer horns – hence its specific name “deer-horned”.

Sumac’s large pinnate compound leaves are 50–60 cm long and resemble palm or fern fronds. Each leaf consists of long toothed leaflets with a dark green velvety surface (from 11 to 31). The peak of decorativeness of the shrub falls in autumn, when the leaves acquire a stunning crimson color and seem to glow from the inside. Moreover, before turning red, the foliage changes the entire palette of shades – from golden yellow to fiery scarlet.

Sumac flowers are no less original. In June, thick red candles 15–20 cm high appear on the tops of the shoots, consisting of many small flowers exuding a fresh cucumber-vinegar aroma. For this smell, sumac received a second name – vinegar tree.

Vinegar fruits are edible. In the US, they are still used to make homemade refreshing drinks that taste like lemonade. But most often the berries are left on the tree – as a winter decoration and a treat for birds.

Spreading miracle with luxurious leaves

Why is it called vinegar tree?

Sumac got its second name – “acetic tree” (or “vinegar”) for one simple reason – because of the very sour taste of its fruits.

Interestingly, not every vinegar tree produces berries: they appear only in female plants. Therefore, experienced gardeners, in order for the tree to pollinate and bear fruit, plant male and female specimens of this plant nearby.

Why is it called fluffy sumac?

Another common name for stag sumac is “fluffy sumac”. Everything is pretty transparent here: the plant was named so because a fluff appears on young branches, which disappears when the shoots get older.

However, “fluffy” sumac can be called not only because of the soft pile covering new shoots. When leaves appear on the plant, the crown of the tree looks simply luxurious: voluminous, dense, from a distance it looks like a large, fluffy ball. After the leaf fall, it becomes clear that this impression is deceptive: the deer-horned sumac usually has few branches, so without the leaves the plant would look rather bald if it were not for the bright, spectacular fruits.

Sumac tree: planting and care

Growing sumac is a simple procedure. Even a novice gardener can cope with such a task. By following all the recommendations, you can grow a beautiful ornamental tree without any effort.

If the seedling is not straight, it has been cut.

Plant selection

When buying planting material, you need to pay attention to the crown and twigs. The tree should be symmetrical, and the leaves should be even, without any defects.

It is necessary to pay attention to the state of the root system. You should buy those specimens whose roots are even and well developed.

Plants with damaged buds are not recommended. Often such specimens do not take root.

Site selection

It is necessary to plant a tree in those areas that are well lit by the sun. Sumac can also grow in the shade, but in this case, the leaves and inflorescences will not be as colorful.

Do not place the plant between other trees, even if they are stunted. This may adversely affect its development.

It should also be noted that sumac does not like strong winds. Therefore, the area where it is planned to plant it must be well protected from drafts.

Soil for sumac

Vinegar grows best on loose and fairly dry soils. Seedlings can be planted in sandy, sandy-clay and sandy-stony soils.

Sumac does not tolerate much moisture. Therefore, if groundwater is close to the selected site, then it is better to abandon the idea of ​​​​planting it there. All exactly the tree will not be as beautiful as it should be.

Sumy feels good in soils with average salinity. It also develops well in areas with limestone.

Acetic tree: care

Among the sumacs, despite their exotic nature, there are very few frosts. In winter, as a rule, they do not freeze over, unless we are talking about very cold winters. In this case, if it is not possible to restore the frozen branches in the spring, they must be almost completely cut off, leaving no more than thirty centimeters from the trunk. Then such a “haircut” will play the decorative effect of the tree in favor, because it will not grow in height, but in width. Therefore, the frozen deer-horned sumac will decorate the site even better than the “hardened” one. Well, if you want to avoid freezing, prepare the vinegar tree for winter in the same autumn when you plant it. To do this, cover the ground around the trunk with peat, dry leaves or hay.

As far as fertilization is concerned, this plant can be left without fertilizing. After all, despite the external splendor, he habitually grows in poor soil. In addition, deer-horned sumac is practically not infected with diseases, so it does not need to be sprayed. Therefore, if you love beautiful plantings that do not require special care, the vinegar tree is perfect for you. If the main thing for you is to benefit, it is better to plant fruit trees on the site and harvest a rich harvest from them!

Planting a vinegar tree

As it seems at first glance, there is nothing super complicated in planting sumac. However, some tricks still need to be known, they will help to grow this handsome man on the site. In general, in the wild, the plant has rather “Spartan” growing conditions: it lives among stones, and in this regard it cannot be called whimsical in any way. Acetic tree can grow even in sandy soil, where zucchini does not grow

However, it is very important for sumac to have a lot of sunlight, so you should choose an unshaded place for planting.

Before planting the seedling, the roots must be cut in such a way that roots up to twenty centimeters long remain at the trunk. Then it is necessary to dig a hole measuring 50 by 50 centimeters, place a plant seedling in it and fix it with earth. It is advisable to immediately water the tree with water.

And one more important point: deer-horned sumac does not like winds. If you have several buildings in your country house, for example, a house, a barn, a bathhouse, choose a place for an exotic handsome man so that it does not grow in the draft formed by these buildings.

Use of sumac

Another name given to staghorn sumac is vinegar tree. This name is not accidental at all. Sumac leaves have a sour taste, which is why this plant is used in a number of countries as a seasoning for meat dishes instead of lemon or vinegar. The sour-tasting fruits of the vinegar tree are used to make various drinks.

In Eastern countries, the plant is known primarily as a unique spice. The aroma of sumac is rather weak, but the value has a beautiful rich ruby ​​​​color and a slight astringent effect with a subtle sourness. Due to these properties, it is used in hot countries as a preservative to increase the shelf life of products.

As a condiment, sumac can not only give a dish of rice, vegetables or meat an appetizing ruby ​​color, but also add piquant spiciness and sourness. This natural ingredient in the production of sausages, minced meat and other meat products is simply unmatched.

Sumac is also known for its medicinal properties, it is used as an anti-inflammatory and antifungal agent. Sumac is a valuable source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C, has antioxidant and diuretic properties, and helps prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

In addition, the roots and leaves of this plant are used to make dye for silk, and wax is obtained from the fruits for making varnishes.

Species

The most popular plants are those used for decorative purposes, industry, and are distinguished by their endurance to adverse weather conditions.

• Stag-horned or fluffy sumac (lat. Rhus typhina). Better known as the vinegar tree. Quite a large plant, most specimens up to 10–12 m in height. Young shoots are slightly pubescent, thick, covered with brown bark. They look like deer antlers. The crowns of this sumac are wide, openwork and dense. The bright green leaves consist of 11–31 narrow, elongated lobes with serrated edges. In autumn they turn crimson or maroon. The inflorescences are pyramidal in shape, covered with a few hairs. The fruits are bright red. The deer-horned sumac is common in North America. Suitable for growing in central Russia. In the most severe winters, the shoots may freeze slightly.
• Fragrant sumac (lat. Rhus aromatica) is a dwarf ornamental variety. Creeping shrub about 70-100 cm in height has long shoots up to 3 m. Widespread in the eastern states of the United States.
• Doubtful sumac (lat. Toxicodendron orientale). Creeping poisonous liana or small shrub up to 1.5 m in height with trifoliate bright green leaves. It is found on the Japanese Islands, Sakhalin, in China. Among the locals it is known as “mustard gas”. The slightest touch of the leaves causes severe itching and redness of the skin.
• Hairy sumac (lat. Toxicodendron trichocarpum) is a low dense tree about 2–4 m tall, found naturally in the Far East. The leaves are large, slightly pubescent, consist of several broad lobes located on the central petiole. The fruits are bright red, small, covered with papillae. All parts of the plant are poisonous.
• Sumac naked (lat. Rhus glabra) is a North American species. Trees and shrubs about 3–6 m high. Shoots without pubescence. The leaves are complex, long, consist of several narrow pointed lobes. The crown is wide, umbrella-shaped. When cut, the branches secrete a thick yellowish sap. The fruits are bright red drupes.
• Tanning sumac, or leather sumac (lat. Rhus coriaria). Distribution zone – southern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia. These low trees and shrubs, about 5 m high, have wide openwork crowns. The leaves are dark green, about 15 cm long, rough, compound, composed of 7–9 ovate dentate lobes. Inflorescences are white. The fruits are red drupes.

Types and forms of sumac

Of all the available species, only some types of wood are most famous: stag-horned sumac, fragrant sumac, naked sumac.

Deer-horned sumac – popular in the south of Russia

It is also called vinegar sumac and fluffy sumac. It compares favorably with other plant species of this family. With his luxurious outfit, like a catchy ceremonial uniform, he attracts the admiring glances of those around him.

The sprawling imposing foliage makes it look like a palm tree, and the ruby ​​candles of the panicles-inflorescences and the autumn color of the foliage, which has absorbed a palette of colors from golden to violent purple, make passers-by admire the outlandish creation of nature, forgetting about everything.

This type of sumac owes its name to the “stalk-horned” species due to its spreading branches resembling deer antlers. Another name – “acetic tree”, the plant received due to the presence of tannins (tannins), which give it a sour taste.

According to the shape of its leaves, staghorn sumac is with lacy dissected leaves (dissecta) and lanceolate deep-toothed (laciniata). Trees with dissected leaves have a less bright color with a predominance of yellow tones. Outwardly, such trees resemble a tree fern. In the lanceolate species, the leaf segments are thinner and with deeper denticles.

Fragrant sumac – has another name – fragrant sumac

Occurs on sandy or rocky soils in eastern North America. In Russia, it grows in the south.

This type of sumac is not high, it is a creeping shrub 2-3 meters high. In mid-latitudes, it does not even reach 1 meter. It forms a lot of brown shoots with a peculiar smell, for which it got its name.

In June it produces its yellow-orange panicle-shaped flowers 20 cm long. By autumn it bears fruit – small yellowish-red drupes. The shape of clearly defined leaves resembles an acacia, and the color of the drupe berries reddening among the foliage is a mountain ash. Its flowering pleases gardeners after 5 years from the year of planting.

Sumac naked – can grow like a bush or like a tree

Decorated with compound pinnate leaves up to 50 cm long. The leaves consist of large lanceolate lobes up to 12 cm long. The surface of the leaves is dark green, bluish underneath.

While the plant is young, it is covered with light fluff. The shoots of this type of sumac are bare, not pubescent. Its scarlet female flowers are collected in a dense pyramid. Male whitish-yellow flowers are located on the branches in loose panicles. The fruits of the plant, covered with a reddish bristle, ripen in November.

Naked sumac loves sunny, windless places. Able to bear fruit for 6 years. In all its glory, the plant appears in autumn, when its foliage, saturated with sunlight, begins to blaze with colors ranging from pale yellow to burning ruby ​​​​color.

Poison sumac

Among the hundreds of species of sumac cultivated as decorative ornaments for landscaping and known for their beneficial properties, there are far from harmless plants. When dealing with these exotic beauties, you should know that some species are very poisonous. They show their aggressive nature even with accidental contact with a person, leaving painful burns on his skin.

Such plants are classified into a special group of the sumac family called Taxicodendron. Poison sumac is a wild shrub. Its leaves contain sicodendroic acid – toxicodendrin. Getting on the skin, it causes burns similar to eczema. Inflammation does not occur at the time of contact of the plant with the skin, but after several hours or even days.

Tree care features

Another good thing about vinegar tree is that it requires almost no maintenance.

Water it only in case of extreme heat and prolonged drought. The plant also does not need to be fed. Although if you see that the growth is insufficient, in the spring you can pour humus or vegetable compost into the ground around the trunk. This will give the tree a good start.

Sumac does not require annual pruning, although it is not afraid of it, because it grows quickly. Usually in the spring they carry out sanitary cleaning of the crown, removing frozen branches. They also form a plant, shortening too advanced shoots.

Since the plant is prone to overgrowth, it is not recommended to loosen the soil in the root zone. By damaging the roots, you thereby stimulate the emergence of young trees. By the way, the same can be said about excessive feeding. The better you take care of the tree, the more abundant its growth will be.

In order not to loosen the soil, it is best to sod or mulch the root zone with decorative gravel. If the growth has appeared and needs to be removed, cut the shoots at the level with the soil, but do not dig them out, otherwise you will get several trees instead of one.

The best way to avoid undergrowth is to cover the trunk circle with grass and keep the plant “starving”

How to choose and where to store

You can make your own seasoning or buy it ready-made. Useful properties in both cases will be the same

When buying, it is advisable to pay attention to fresh seasoning. The release date of sumac can be found on the packaging.

If seasoning is sold by weight, you need to pay attention to its appearance. Too intense color indicates the presence of impurities. Sumac should have a sour smell reminiscent of dry fruit. When rubbing the powder in the hands, grains can be felt. They are crushed bones. In a quality seasoning, they should not be. Sometimes fake sumac is found in the markets. Most often, it is made from ground pomegranate peel, after which it is dyed with a bright dye. The taste of sumac should be sour and slightly salty.

The seasoning should be stored in a glass or ceramic container with a tight lid. It should be protected from direct exposure to the sun and moisture. The most suitable place for storage will be a kitchen cabinet. Subject to all conditions, sumac will retain its benefits for 1 year. After the specified time, the seasoning loses its taste and useful properties. Therefore, it is advisable to stock up on a small amount of seasoning. The longer it is stored, the less intense its taste will be.

Application

Sumac is a valuable ornamental plant, a source of raw materials for the culinary, pharmaceutical, and leather industries.

Cooking

Ground dried vinegar and tannin sumac berries are used in cooking as a spice. This spice is dark red or cherry in color and has a light aroma and sour taste. It has long become an integral part of oriental cuisine. It is added during the preparation of meat dishes: cutlets, roast, kebab, shawarma, shish kebab. Use to add rich color and savory flavor to sauces, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, soups, marinades, stews, side dishes of potatoes, beans, rice and beans. As a food additive, it is used in the production of cheeses, sausages, minced meat, pates, semi-finished meat products.

Sumac is as popular as black and red pepper, turmeric, nutmeg and cloves.

Landscaping

These plants make the area more picturesque. In spring and summer, the green carved crown pleases, by autumn it becomes bright red, burgundy or pink. Pyramidal clusters of fruits that look like thick candles look unusual and exotic, which can last until spring.

In the garden, sumac looks great in an ensemble with undersized firs, junipers, thujas and other conifers. He likes to dominate, so he needs to allocate central zones on the site.

The plant is insensitive to air pollution, produces a lot of oxygen, suitable for landscaping urban squares, park areas. It can be planted on the slopes of ravines. Powerful branched roots prevent weathering, shedding of soil.

Fruits

Tanning sumac and vinegar berries contain organic acids, saponins, antioxidants, vitamins, tannins, anthocyanins and other useful substances. They are used to make refreshing drinks. Leaf juice and fruits – a remedy for the treatment of diabetes, gastrointestinal tract, parasitic and infectious diseases.

Ruby dye for the food industry is made from sumac berries.

Leaves, bark, wood

From young shoots and tree bark, a solution is obtained for the treatment of leather. From the leaves produce tannin, gallic acid, which are used in official medicine. In veterinary medicine and folk methods of treatment, tannic sumac leaves are raw materials for the preparation of anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antiparasitic agents.

The wood is strong and does not crack. The heartwood is reddish or olive in color with pronounced rings, the sapwood is lighter. Wood lends itself well to mechanical and manual processing, it is used in the manufacture of furniture, finishing chipboard coatings, in artistic design, for inlay.

Vinegar propagating rules

To propagate the vinegar tree, it is recommended to use the vegetative method, but in some cases the seed method is also used.

Propagation of sumac with root shoots. Over time, many root shoots appear next to the adult specimen of vinegar. This property, although a problem, allows easy reproduction. To do this, the grown young plant should be separated from the root system of the mother vinegar tree and transplanted to a prepared place

It is important to choose a sumac seedling that looks the most developed and dig it out with a well-sharpened shovel.

Since the root shoot originates from the root system of the old parent specimen, but also receives nutrients through it, it does not have its own roots. Therefore, when digging up a sumac seedling, it is recommended to cut it off as deep as possible. After that, landing is carried out according to the above rules. Adaptation of such seedlings is quite easy and fast.

In the event that the seedling is not planned to be planted immediately or it is moved over long distances, it is important to prepare it for transportation. Existing young sumac roots should be wrapped in a well-moistened cloth or immersed in damp (but never wet) sawdust

Then, in any case, you need to pack the root system in a plastic bag. Thus, moisture will be provided for a long period and the roots will not have time to dry out. Such storage is possible for seven days.

Propagation of sumac with seeds. This method will require special efforts from the gardener. This is because the germination of seed material is gradually decreasing and after 3–4 years it will be completely lost. At the same time, even with timely sowing, seed germination rates reach only 2%, and even then quite rarely. Vinegar seedlings, even if they are grown in compliance with all the rules, die off after 15–20 years. If, nevertheless, a decision is made to sow sumac seeds, it is necessary to carry out cold stratification for two months. The germination of seed is increased by treating them with high concentration sulfuric acid and subsequent scalding. The duration of acid treatment should be at least 50 minutes, and after that the seeds are placed immediately in boiling water.

After that, sumac seeds can be sown in seedling containers filled with peat-sand mixture or immediately in open ground. In the first case, they are distributed on the surface of the substrate and sprinkled with a layer of the same soil. From above crops are sprayed and covered with plastic wrap

When leaving, it is important to keep the soil moist, but not flood it. Airings are carried out daily for 10-15 minutes

In the second, a hole about 15–20 cm deep is dug for the seeds of vinegar. Sprouts can be expected after 20–30 days from the moment of sowing.

If seeds are scattered on the ground next to the sumac mother plant, but, despite their hard shell, it rots over time, and you can see a young shoot of vinegar. It is better not to touch such a seedling, and over time it will turn into a full-fledged plant that can be transplanted to the required place.

Planting and caring for plantings

Fluffy sumac loves light. In the sun, it grows faster and develops better. Seedlings should not be planted near a house or barn. Choose a place for them somewhere in the middle of the site and do not enclose it with anything. A good landing site will facilitate the care of the plant – the shoots of overgrown sumac are easier to remove from an open area. The tree can get sick from drafts, so it is better to choose a place protected from the wind for it.

Vinegar prefers loose and dry soils. It can be grown on sandy, clayey-sandy and rocky-sandy soils. The tree does not tolerate wet or swampy land, as well as close groundwater. But it grows well on saline soils and on limestones. On the slopes of ravines and embankments, strong roots hold the sumac tree well.

Planting is easy. The tree is planted in spring or autumn. Young plants should be about two years old. In autumn, the tree is planted in a container to be transferred to the main planting site in the spring. In order to bear fruit, there must be a male and a female tree on the site.

An earth ball must be included in the seedling hole. Add a shovel of compost to it. The roots of the plant are straightened and placed in the ground so that the earthen lump is on a par with the surface of the soil. The pit is covered with earth and the plant is watered.

How to plant European weeping dwarf larch

Trees are planted at a distance of not about 2.5 m. During planting, slate, boards or sheets of metal should be dug in, which will limit the growth of roots.