Common Name:
thick leaved sumac
Family Name:
Anacardiaceae
Botanical Name:
Rhus virens
Sub Species:
Variety:
choriophylla
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Thick leaved sumac have leathery pinnate leaves that contain three to five ovate leaflets and are about one and three-quarters inches long.
Compound:
Rhu vir cho
Geographic Origin:
Mexican Desert
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
It is suggested that Rhus virens var. choriophylla is indigenous to the Mexican desert (1). It was later found found to be distributed from central Texas to northern Mexico and has since spread to Arizona and New Mexico (2,3). The native habitat of this species is on hillsides and bluffs that are particularly rocky, as well as arid hillsides (2,3).
Cultivation Notes:
Propagation from seed requires pretreatment by hot water or acid scarification or cold-moist stratification. Rhus virens var. choriophylla can thrive in full sun or partly shaded areas (2,3,4). The Evergreen Sumac requires very low amounts of water as it drought resistant, being native to a desert region (2). The preferred soil is rocky, but it is adaptable to other soil conditions (3,4).
Ethnobotany:
This plant feeds various mammals, birds, butterflies, and honey bees (3). Humans could have a reaction to this plant as it is related to poison ivy (5). The Navajo were known to ground down the berries and use a flour-meal (5). The berries have also been known to be eaten fresh, mixed with other fruits, or dried and stored for later use (5). Medicinally, this the bark was chewed and the juice was used to treat the common cold (5).The berries can also make tea if soaked in water for a short period of time (3). The Comanche Indians have used the leaves with tobacco in order to smoke the tobacco (4). Rhus virens var. choriophylla is also used to treat asthma symptoms (4). As a landscape ornamental, it is ideal for a small site or as a medium scale understory plant (3).
Height:
16 - 20 feet
Width:
16 - 20 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
Fall
Color:
White
Function:
Screen
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
