Staghorn Sumac

Rhus typhina

Katya from Moscow, Russia

Taxonomy

Division:: Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:: Anacardiaceae
Genus:: Rhus
Species:: Rhus typhina

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:: Perennial
Growth Habit:: Shrub , Tree
Height:: 20-40 ft
Light Requirements:: Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Drought Tolerance:: High
Bloom Months:: jun, jul
Bloom Colors:: Red, Yellow, Green

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:: ★★☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Anacampsis rhoifructella, black-tipped pyralid moth (Moodna ostrinella), Caloptilia belfrageella, Canadian Melanolophia (Melanolophia canadaria), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Marathyssa inficita, Mendocino saturnia moth (Saturnia mendocino), Peppered Moth (Biston betularia), Pseudochelaria walsinghami, purplish leafroller moth (Olethreutes permundana), Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), Showy Emerald (Dichorda iridaria), Splendid Royal Moth (Citheronia splendens), spotted datana (Datana perspicua), Sumac Leafblotch Miner Moth (Caloptilia rhoifoliella), Variable antepione (Antepione thisoaria), White-lined leafroller (Amorbia humerosana), Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus), Two-spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:: sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:: 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
Drainage:: excellent drainage required
Moisture:: dry to moderate
Notes:: Thrives in disturbed areas and open fields

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Scarification: boil water to cover the seeds. Cool for one day. Mix equal amount of seeds with perlite or vermiculite in a bag or container. Add a small amount of water. Cold store (33-42 degrees F) for 3-5 months.

Establishment: Seed is collected by hand from locally native plants within the eastern Upper Peninsula. Flowers from May to July. Seed is harvested in late summer to fall. No artificial light is used in the greenhouse.

Source: npn.rngr.net