2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Sumakh (lat. Rhus) - a genus of shrubs or small trees of the Sumach family (Anacardiaceae). Another name for vinegar tree. The genus unites about 250 species. Natural habitat - temperate and subtropical zones of North America, Asia and Europe. Some species are distinguished by highly allergenic foliage and gray-white fruits.
Characteristics of culture
Sumakh is a deciduous, rarely evergreen shrub or tree 10-12 m high. Shoots are light brown, horizontal, pubescent over the entire surface. The leaves are dark green, compound, trifoliate, pinnate, embossed, velvety, located on winged or rounded petioles. In autumn, the leaves change color to fiery orange, scarlet and purple hues.
The flowers are rather small, inconspicuous, greenish or orange-yellow in color, with a specific smell, collected in paniculate, spike-shaped or apical inflorescences. Fruits are small, dark red, with a fleecy surface, collected in vertical brushes. Sumac is a fast-growing plant, has the ability to form shoots. The growing season is from late April to late October (depending on climatic conditions).
Growing conditions
Sumac is drought-resistant and photophilous, prefers well-lit areas, protected from cold winds. It is not picky about soil conditions, it tolerates some salinity without problems. Sumac develops best on moderately moist, fertile and drained soils.
Reproduction and planting
Sumac is propagated by seeds and root suckers. The second method is more effective, the only drawback is that the plants form a large amount of root growth. Seeds are stratified before sowing for two months; during autumn sowing, they undergo natural stratification. Also, the seeds need to be treated with sulfuric acid, followed by washing in boiling water. Sumach seedlings grow very quickly, of course, with careful care. Young plants should be planted at a considerable distance from each other.
Care
Caring for sumac does not cause any particular difficulties. It is necessary to regularly loosen and free the near-trunk zone from weeds. It is important to do this very carefully, since even minor damage to the roots leads to the formation of abundant growth. It is advisable to mulch the near-trunk zone with sawdust with a layer of 5-8 cm. Young plants need watering only during prolonged drought, adults can do without them. The culture is fed once a year in early spring with nitroammophos at the rate of 30 g per square meter. Sanitary pruning is done in the spring. For the winter, the trunk circles are mulched with a thick layer of humus or peat, in the spring the shelter is removed.
Application
Sumakh is an ornamental plant that gives the impression of an exotic palm tree. And in fact, from a distance, the plants resemble multi-stemmed palms. The culture is used in landscaping parks and gardens, looks great in single and group plantings. It is often used to decorate rocky hills and strengthen soils that are prone to water and wind erosion. The beautiful coloration of the foliage in autumn allows the plant to be used in seasonal compositions, for example, in autogenesis.
Sumac looks especially good against the background of dark coniferous plantings. With the help of the plant, you can create magnificent expressive compositions that will add zest to the external appearance of the garden. In winter, the plants are also decorative thanks to the bright clusters of red fruits. Some types of sumac, in particular, tannic sumac, are used as a spice. The plant is widely used in folk medicine. The poisonous sumac species has quite dangerous properties; in contact with parts of the plant, you can get a severe burn.
