Rhus typhina - Stag's Horn Sumach

Staghorn Sumac or Rhus Typhina is a bush that blooms from June throughout the summer. It produces yellow-green flowers in panicles. The female flowers and the male flowers are arranged on separate plants. It is the female flowers that will produce hairy red fruits. These fruits form clusters at the end of the branches and last until winter, even when the deciduous leaves are no longer present.

On the red hairy stems, the foliage adds attractiveness to the tree. It turns from green to a beautiful orange-red colour in autumn. The leaves are very large, measuring from 20 to 60 cm (8 to 24in), and are composed of 11 to 31 leaflets measuring between 6 and 12 cm (2 and 5in) long. These leaflets are oblong (longer than wide and rounded at both ends), deeply cut and toothed.

The Staghorn Sumac can reach a height of up to 8 m (26ft) at maturity. It is also a suckering bush that can become very invasive. Native to eastern North America, it is a hardy plant that was introduced to Europe in the 1620s. It is a perennial with a lifespan of 50 to 100 years. The Staghorn Sumac is melliferous, meaning it contains substances collected by pollinating insects or some birds that are transformed into honey. It also attracts butterflies. It can be grown both individually and in groups, as well as in hedges and even in pots. It often grows on dry and rocky slopes, preventing soil erosion. It is also found in meadows, thickets, and forest edges.

It is a tree that is used for ornamental purposes. It is also called Vinegar Tree and its acidic fruits are used to make a kind of lemonade. Caution should be taken with the toxic sap, which can cause severe dermatitis.