Stag's-horn Sumach - Rhus typhina

Alternative names
Staghorn Sumac, Rhus hirta
Description

A large suckering deciduous shrub to 6 metres with red-hairy stems and alternate, large, pinnate leaves which turn red and orange in autumn. It is dioecious (separate male and female plants). It has conical clusters of yellow-green flowers and on female plants these are followed by deep crimson-red fruit spikes.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Usually found near to habitation as an escape from cultivation. Often escapes by means of suckers which extend way beyond the parent tree.

When to see it

Flowering July ? August.

Life History

Deciduous shrub.

UK Status

There are occasional, but widespread records of this plant escaping from cultivation in England and Wales.

VC55 Status

Uncommon or under recorded as an escape from cultivation in Leicestershire and Rutland. It was not recorded in VC55 until 1996 (Osgathorpe).

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Stag's-horn Sumach
Species group:
Trees, Shrubs & Climbers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Sapindales
Family:
Anacardiaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
6
First record:
25/07/2015 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
05/09/2021 (Calow, Graham)

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% of records within its species group

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