Staghorn Sumac: the Super Shrub

Staghorn Sumac: it has beauty, it has brawn, and it has berries. We all know it by sight, with its brilliant red foliage and fruit clusters glowing like wildfire in the ditches along every major highway. It's so common, in fact, that it's sometimes referred to as a weed. This versatile plant is incredibly beneficial in nature and in medicine, and is an integral part of our landscape, yet many of us don't realize the potential this "weed" holds. Let's get to know more about this backyard super shrub and all it has to offer. 

Pileated Woodpecker feeding on Staghorn Sumac berries

Staghorn Sumac in transition to fall foliage

Plant profile

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) is a large (grows up to 30' high), fast-growing, and hearty fruiting
shrub, native to the more southern half of Ontario, carrying eastward to the Maritimes. It has compound leaves that are serrated along the edges, bright green in colour in the summer, changing to yellow, orange, and a fiery scarlet in the fall. The branches of Staghorn Sumac are clothed in a velvety bark that resembles velvet on stag antlers, giving it the name "Staghorn". In the spring, small greenish-yellow flowers form in the shape of a cone, generating beautiful reddish-haired fruit clusters in late summer that often hang on throughout the winter. Due to its heartiness, and stunning foliage particularly in autumn, Staghorn Sumac has become a popular ornamental for landscapers and gardeners. (Click here for info on growing conditions)

Black-capped Chickadee feeding on Staghorn Sumac berries

Value to wildlife

Staghorn Sumac is useful, in some form or another, to just about every species in its habitat. Its broad canopy of leaves provides protection from inclement weather, shade on hot summer days, and safe zones for prey fleeing from predators. Species like White-tailed Deer often choose to bed in sumac stands, taking advantage of the ample cover and protection from predators. Staghorn Sumac also gives many bird species well-sheltered areas to nest & raise their young. Parts of the sumac plant can even be used as nesting material for some bee species. Sumac provides an endless list of species with food in the form of leaves & twigs, nectar, and fruit. Its fresh leaves and twigs offer rabbits and moose nourishment in spring and throughout the seasons. Its nectar-rich flowers attract pollinator species, providing them with much-needed sustenance. And its vibrant, juicy berries are on the menu for hundreds of bird species including Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, American Robin & other thrush species, Gray Catbird, Northern Cardinal, most woodpecker species, and many more. Because its berries hang on well in to the winter months, they are an invaluable emergency source of food when other sources are low. In addition to the plant being food itself, Staghorn Sumac also attracts a variety of insects to its flowers and berries, providing yet another source of food for birds as well as herptiles who are nearby. Having Staghorn Sumac present in your yard gives you the opportunity to view many insect and fruit eating species that you may not have the pleasure of viewing at your feeders, like warblers, cuckoos, and thrashers. 

Value to people

Used in many areas of study and craftsmanship including bushcraft, herbalism, and cuisine, Staghorn Sumac's benefits to humans have been known and documented for centuries. The tannin-packed leaves and bark have been used as an agent for tanning leather; new growth twigs can be used for basket weaving; leaves and fruits were at one point in history boiled down to create a black ink for writing purposes; and berries & roots crushed and prepared for soothing sore throats, slowing bleeding, and other ailments. With modern advancements in technology, many of these uses have fallen by the wayside, but many herbalists and foragers continue to use Staghorn Sumac today for its health benefits including its high-content of Vitamin C, which helps support a healthy immune system. When ripe and full (August to October), Staghorn Sumac berries have a potent lemony flavour with a hint of spice, making them great additives or substitutes in lemonade, tea mixtures, and wine. Click here to learn how to forage Staghorn Sumac berries and brew your own "sun tea". *Please note that there are Staghorn Sumac look-a-likes including Poison Sumac which is - you guessed it - poison! Please be sure to consult with professionals if unsure of the type of sumac you are foraging. 

Monarch Butterfly sunning on Staghorn Sumac leaf in autumn

While planning your spring gardening, consider Staghorn Sumac as part of your landscaping plans. You will be rewarded with not only beautiful views of that fiery red foliage, but also with a plethora of wildlife enjoying the (literal) fruits of your labour. 

Happy trails!

- Shayna