Plant Details

Rhus typhina

Sumach

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Common names

44 names · 30 languages
EnglishYour language
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • staghorn sumach[2]
  • Sumach
Other languages (29)
Dutch
  • Azijnboom[2]
  • Fluweelboom[2]
  • sumak
French
  • Sumac amaranthe[2]
  • Sumac vinaigrier[2]
Belarusian
  • Сумах аленярогі або пушысты, ці Воцатнае дрэва[2]
Bulgarian
  • Влакнест шмак[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 火炬樹[2]
  • 鹿角漆樹[2]
  • 鹿角鹽膚木[2]
Croatian
  • Dlakavi ruj[2]
  • Kiseli ruj[2]
Czech
  • škumpa orobincová[2]
Danish
  • Hjortetaktræ[2]
Estonian
  • harilik sumahh[2]
  • äädikapuu[2]
Finnish
  • samettisumakki[2]
German
Hungarian
Italian
  • sommacco maggiore[2]
Japanese
  • ルスティフィナ[2]
  • ルス・ティフィナ[2]
Latvian
  • Parastais etiķkoks[2]
Lithuanian
  • Rūgštusis žagrenis[2]
Mohawk
Norwegian
  • hjortesumak[2]
Polish
  • Sumak octowiec[2]
  • Sumak odurzający[2]
Romanian
  • Oțetar roșu[2]
Russian
  • Сумах оленерогий[2]
Serbian
  • Кисели руј[2]
Slovak
  • sumach pálkový[2]
Slovenian
Spanish
  • Zumaque de Virginia[2]
Swedish
  • rönnsumak[2]
Turkish
  • Kızaran Sumak[2]
Ukrainian
  • Сумах коротковолосий, оцтове дерево[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Rhus typhina L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Essigbaum (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 172980; taxon 4SND6.
  • Stag's-horn Sumach (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 172981; taxon 4SND6.
  • Staghorn sumac — VernacularName.tsv, line 172982; taxon 4SND6.
[2] Rhus typhina — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • staghorn sumac — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • staghorn sumach — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Essigbaum — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • sommacco maggiore — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Sumac vinaigrier — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Sumac amaranthe — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Zumaque de Virginia — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • red sumac — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • rönnsumak — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Sumak odurzający — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • škumpa orobincová — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Hjortetaktræ — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Azijnboom — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Fluweelboom — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • äädikapuu — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • harilik sumahh — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • hjortesumak — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Влакнест шмак — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Сумах оленерогий — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Sumak octowiec — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Kiseli ruj — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Dlakavi ruj — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Rūgštusis žagrenis — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • sumach pálkový — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • 鹿角漆樹 — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • 火炬樹 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Tará:kwi — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • 火炬树 — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • 鹿角鹽膚木 — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Oțetar roșu — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Кисели руј — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Сумах аленярогі або пушысты, ці Воцатнае дрэва — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • samettisumakki — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Сумах коротковолосий, оцтове дерево — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Octovec — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • ルス・ティフィナ — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Parastais etiķkoks — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Ecetfa — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • ルスティフィナ — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • ecetszömörce — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • stag's-horn sumach — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Kızaran Sumak — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.

General information

Scientific name: Rhus typhina
Accepted name (Kew): Rhus typhina L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Anacardiaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Rhus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Sumach
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Tree
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 2.44–7.62 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 2.44–7.62 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Open, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Oil, Sap
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Dye, Hedge, Oil, Windbreak, Wood

Description

Fruit - cooked. These fruits have a very sour taste and are often used in pies. They are quite small and contain little flesh, but grow in large clusters, making them easy to harvest. When soaked in hot or cold water for 10-30 minutes, they create a refreshing lemonade-like drink (without carbonation, of course). The mixture should not be boiled, as this will release tannins and make the drink astringent.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 148593; name ID 2420929; Rhus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 151628; name ID 2423458; Rhus typhina L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Rhus typhina

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1140239, ID 4SND6: Rhus typhina L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Rhus typhina — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .