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June 1, 2010
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Southeastern, New Hampshire
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Staghorn Sumac is a small tree or bush that usually grows from 8 to 20 feet tall.
The leaves are alternate and pinnately compound with 9 to 31 toothed leaflets. The
red hairy fruit grows on the terminal ends of the branches. You can see from the
pictures the red fruit from last year. Sometimes, the previous years‘ fruit
can be picked as late as April, but it is better to pick it around August of the
year it ripens. Staghnorn Sumac has extremely hairy branches that feel like velvet.
There are other Sumacs that have some similarities. Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)
(Edible fruit) is similar to Staghorn Sumac, but has smooth (hairless) stems and leaf
stalks (petioles). Dward Sumac (Rhus copallina) (Edible fruit) grows 4-10 feet
tall, has raised dots on the stem and the 11-23 glossy leaflets have untoothed margins.
Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) (Inedible fruit) has white, hairless fruit
hairless stems and untoothed leaf margins. It tends to grow in swampy areas.
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