edible sumac identification - Ask Extension
I have wanted to forage sumac for some time but have never found any in the wild. I was running errands and saw this lying in a parking lot and recogn...
Knowledgebase
edible sumac identification #760655
Asked July 08, 2021, 2:01 PM EDT
I have wanted to forage sumac for some time but have never found any in the wild. I was running errands and saw this lying in a parking lot and recognized it. I took it home, prepared some of the seeds (soak in boiling water, scrub with sand paper then freeze) and ended up with two plants.
1. Is this Rhus typhina (Staghorn sumac) or Rhus glabra (red sumac)
2. any suggestions on growing? (are the shoots as bad as bamboo or mint?)
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Rhus glabra is more common in the wild in Oregon, but R. typhina is used in landscaping, so it could be either one. It is hard to tell at the seedling stage. If the stem starts looking hairy then it is R. typhina. If it remains smooth it is R. glabra. Both grow similarly though. They will sucker, so plant it in an area where it has room to spread. I hope you can find a spot for it as it is a great plant for pollinators and for people!
