Pollinator plant

Sumach

Rhus typhina

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Common names

44 names · 30 languages
EnglishYour language
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • staghorn sumach[1][2]
  • Sumach
Other languages (29)
Dutch
French
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
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
Swedish
  • rönnsumak[2]
Turkish
  • Kızaran Sumak[2]
Ukrainian
  • Сумах коротковолосий, оцтове дерево[2]
Sources & name notes (4)

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

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

[1] Rhus typhina — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Fluweelboom — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Azijnboom — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Sumac vinaigrier — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • stag's-horn sumach — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Essigbaum — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • red sumac — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • staghorn sumac — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • staghorn sumach — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Zumaque de Virginia — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Sumac amaranthe — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • sommacco maggiore — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
[2] Rhus typhina — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Fluweelboom — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Azijnboom — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Sumac vinaigrier — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • stag's-horn sumach — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Essigbaum — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • red sumac — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • staghorn sumac — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • staghorn sumach — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Zumaque de Virginia — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • Sumac amaranthe — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
  • sommacco maggiore — results[0].names[5]; 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.
  • 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.
  • Kızaran Sumak — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 167829; Rhus typhina.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Rhus typhina ↗

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

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

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Staghorn Sumac — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Rhus typhina.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Rhus typhina is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Anacardiaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
2.44–7.62 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
2.44–7.62 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Open; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Rapid

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, moths, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
E. Canada to NC. & E. U.S.A.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Tree
Size
Small
Dimensions
6.00 m high × 6.00 m wide
Growth rate
Slow
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
4-8
Moisture
Well-drained, Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Fruit, Oil, Sap
Functions
Dye, Hedge, Oil, Windbreak, Timber
Edibility
4 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

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.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Rhus typhina — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1140239; ID 4SND6; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1140239; ID 4SND6; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Rhus typhina — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Rhus typhina — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 151628; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 863114, 863116, 863117, 863118, 863119, 863121, 863122, 863124, 863128, 863129, 863130, 863131, 863132, 863133, 863134, 863135, 863136, 863137, 863138, 863139, 863140, 863141, 863143, 863145, 863146, 863147, 863148, 863150, 863151, 863152, 863153, 863154

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.