PLANT OF THE MONTH

Rhus chinensis, the Chinese sumac, or nutgall tree, is a plant species in the genus Rhus.

JIM FUNAI, LIC Cuyahoga Community College SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

Rhus is an interesting genus of plants, with at least five species that we can plant in our landscapes here in Ohio. Four are Ohio natives; R. aromatica (Fragrant Sumac), R. copallina (Shining Sumac), R. glabra (Smooth Sumac), and R. typhina (Staghorn Sumac). Rhus chinensis is a non-native species to Ohio, but may be of value in some scenarios, so we chose to include it this month.

Rhus is a genus within the family Anacardiacea, known as the Cashew, or Sumac family. As our readers have come to know, we love sharing the meaning behind all the Latinized names our plants have, as they offer wonderful insight into their appearance, use, or story behind their discovery.

Starting with the family, Anacardiaceae, there are two Greek roots being used; “ana” a prefix which means “up or out” and “cardia” (Greek root kardia) which means “heart” (think of cardiac in medicine). Of course, “aceae” is the standard suffix of family names. In this use, the “anacardia” refers to the seeds/fruits which are held out and up from the stem, which is true for many of the members of this family, but not all.

Another common trait members of this family exhibit is a fragrant, sticky, and sometimes poisonous sap. You would be most familiar with the edible members of the family Anacardium (Cashew), Mangifera (Mango), and Pistacia (Pistachio) as well as the common ornamental member Cotinus (Smoke Tree). Perhaps you have noticed when pruning Smoke Tree, the sap is quite sticky and stinky?

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The most notorious members of the family, which used to be listed as Rhus, but have since been moved to their own genus, Toxicodendron (Latin for “poison tree”) include Poison Ivy (T. radicans), Poison Oak (T. pubescens), and Poison Sumac (T. vernix). Let’s be very clear – Poison Sumac is NOT a true Sumac (Rhus). In fact, none of the members of Rhus will cause the allergic reaction of Poison Sumac, because they do not contain the key ingredient, Urushiol, in their sap. Your friend who swears they are “allergic to Sumacs” is not. They probably got into poison ivy and couldn’t identify it.

We highly recommend using native Sumacs in your designs, where appropriate, as they add character and beauty to any landscape. In addition, consider the versatility of one which is native to a large portion of Asia, called Rhus chinensis. With a bit of a tropical feel, this small tree takes a commanding presence in the landscape when sited correctly. Leaves are up to 15 inches long, odd pinnately compound, with 7 to 13 leaflets giving it a palm tree effect. The size of the plant will reach between 15 to 25 feet tall and wide, but forms a suckering colony, like all Sumac. This is a key factor when siting the plant. Give it room to sucker and build a mini forest of trees, or you will fight it forever. Poorly drained soils are the only thing to avoid, being sure to provide at least partial, if not full-sun exposure. Straight species are rare in the market, but you will find an improved cultivar named ‘September Beauty’ as the ideal selection. September Beauty has huge (up to 18 foot) ivorycolored, panicle flowers at the ends of the branches, which look like giant Astilbe flowers. They bloom in late August into September, when there isn’t much else blooming on our trees/shrubs. In October, leaves will fade into yellows, oranges, apricots, and some reds – depending on sun exposure – making this a great plant to add late season interest in the landscape.

Like all Rhus, R. chinensis is a dioecious species, meaning male flowers and female flowers are borne on separate plants. We think ‘September Beauty’ is a male clone, but it doesn’t matter much, because all plants will be the same sex and fruit set will not occur. This helps keep this non-native from risk of invasiveness, as sumacs in general are pretty good at spreading via seed. This doesn’t mean plant it wherever though. As stated earlier, it is a suckering colonizer. In the wrong location it will start to take over a landscape bed. Use it as a screen planting along a property where lawn mowers will keep suckers in check. Or, perhaps use it in a parking lot island, along a roadway, or on slopes in need of stabilization. Consider use near a swimming pool to help conceal the fence and provide a tropical feel around the pool. continued on page 28

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Expect low branching and multiple trunks over time. You can either leave these low branches for heavy screening, or the plants can be limbed-up to create more of a tree effect out of the colony. Bark is a smooth-gray with prominent lenticels offering some winter interest.

In China, this plant was in cultivation before recorded history. An aphid which produces a leaf gall creates a valued item in traditional medicine. The galls are high in a chemical compound called Gallowtannis, which has impressive antiviral, antibacterial, and antioxidant values. Translated, the Chinese name for this tree is Nutgall Tree, the nutgall being the leaf gall formed by the aphid. This aphid is not found in the United States, so galls will not be formed.

Interestingly this plant has been in Western cultivation since the late 1700s, after being introduced by Phillip Miller, an English botanist who is most famous for his work at the Chelsea Physic Garden in London, UK. This garden – in the heart of London, on the River Thames – has been around since 1673 and focuses on the medicinal and utilitarian values of plants. Mr. Miller was interested in cultivation for medicinal studies; we benefit by adding another beauty to the landscape.

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Jim Funai, PhD. is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited associate of applied science in hoticulture degree program. He has a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. Shelley Funai is Grounds Manager at Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio, which offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.

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