Rhus glaba

Plant Details

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General Information

Scientific name: Rhus glaba

Also known as: Smooth Sumach

Images: Google Images

Plant Properties

Layer: Tree

Format: Smal

Height: 3.00 m

Width: 3.00 m

Growth Rate: Moderate

Leaf: Deciduous

Growth conditions

USDA Hardiness: 3-9

Soil Moisture:
Permeable, Moist

Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)

pH:
Acid Neutral Basic

Light:
Sun

Usage properties

Edible part:
Fruit, Oil, Stem, Root

Edibility:
(4)

Medicinal:
(3)

Features:
Dye, Hedge, Oil, Pioneer, Wind trap, Wood, Bee plant

Description

Fruits of this plant can be eaten both raw and cooked and have a sour taste, making them suitable as a substitute for lemon juice. The fruits are small with little pulp, but the clusters they grow on are large and easy to harvest. If the fruits are soaked in hot or cold water for 10 to 30 minutes, a refreshing drink similar to lemonade is produced. It is not recommended to boil this drink, as this releases tannins, making it too sharp in flavor. The root of the plant can be peeled and eaten raw. The young shoots can also be peeled and eaten raw. The bark of the plant is eaten by some children as a candy, but the sap can cause skin rashes in some people. Little is known about this reaction, so it is advisable to be cautious when handling this plant.

Harvest Data

Start Harvest: 01/09

End of Harvest: 31/10

Crown Data

Crown Type: Breed piramidaal

Crown Density: Dichte kroon

Guilds

Guild Information

Click on a plant in the diagram for more information.

Guild Details

Guild	Description
Ribes sanguineum Flowering Currant, Blood currant	The berries produced can attract birds, which help disperse the seeds of Rhus glaba.
Corylus avellana Hazel	Rhus glaba enhances the nitrogen-fixing capability of Corylus avellana, supporting better growth and soil health.
Zanthoxylum americanum Prickly Ash - Northern, Common pricklyash, Northern Prickly Ash	The combination can deter pests through shared aromatic defenses.
Sambucus canadensis American Elder	Rhus glaba can provide a habitat for beneficial insects that help control pests on Sambucus canadensis.
Asimina triloba Papaw	These trees can share nutrients and improve soil moisture retention together.
Betula nigra River Birch, Black Birch, Red Birch, Water Birch, River Birch	These plants can attract pollinators and support each other's growth.
Rubus idaeus Raspberry	The raspberries benefit from the nutrient-rich soil and improved pest resistance from Rhus glaba.