Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Anacardiaceae

Genus:

Rhus

Species:

Rhus kearneyi

USDA Symbol:

RHKE

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Tree

Height:

450 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun,Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

mar,apr,may

Bloom Colors:

white, cream

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts vigorously from root crown following fire, typical of Sonoran Desert shrubs.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rocky, well-drained desert soil

pH:

6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to arid regions, prefers rocky slopes

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 60–90 days

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

30–60 days

Notes:

Acid scarification or mechanical abrasion followed by warm then cold stratification improves germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI