Staghorn Sumac, Rhus typhina, Benefits
Whitetail Deer
Happen to run across this recently...
I knew there were differnt species of sumac so I tried to avoid all of them because I didn't know the difference between Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) and the much-feared poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)... I get poison ivy bad so staying away from all of them especially any plant with poison in it's name, but this article clairified it for me... Now, am gonna make me some Rhus Juice (Staghorn Sumac Juice)...8^)
Deer browse it:
"staghorn sumac is an incredibly important food source for wildlife. The fruit, which persists on the plant throughout the winter and into the following spring, no doubt helps many birds and mammals survive"
https://www.farmanddairy.com/columns/oh-deer-maybe- not/785300.html
There is some growing on the edge of the woods that butts up to our yard. This is how it looks now, before the drupes ripen.
Hard to tell by your photo Old Reb if those leaves are serrated but they look smooth:
"While the staghorn sumac has leaves that are serrated, poison sumac leaves have smooth edges"
Cool! Deer don't like it on our place, so it winters until most other food sources are gone... then the deer hit it. Kind a reserve system.
Stag horn simmered in water makes a wonderful refreshing lemonade like drink
it is on everybody's short list of stuff they call me to kill with my herbicide business But I have several big stems of it within site of my dining room table. I enjoy watching the blue birds and Robbins feed on the seeds in late winter as they migrate back to Maine to stake out their breeding territories. And my bucks seem to like rubbing their antlers on it, in case anybody is offended by a non hunting thread
Yeah, I 've noticed too bucks will rub it...
longsprings - The link I gave explains how to make it...
Z, I will take a closer look at the leaves. It looks like your pic when the drupes are ripe. I'm pretty sure it is Staghorn Sumac but I'll double check. The rash from Poison Sumac sounds to be pretty nasty, much worse than poison ivy.
Deer love the stuff here in mid Michigan. I enjoy it as it provides some color most of the year. For some reason, even though it’s supposedly great for poor dry soil, I can’t get any to grow on my property. Still trying tho…
Old Reb - If the berries turn red I would assume it's the edible Staghorn sumac although serrated leaves would confirm so...
From what I’ve seen, poison sumac is usually found close to water. A friend has lake property with a big swampy bog on it. That stuff grows right out of the muck in shallow water.
