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Native Plant Database

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Rhus virens var. choriophylla (Woot. & Standl.) L. Benson

Mearn sumac, Evergreen sumac

Anacardiaceae (Sumac Family)

Synonyms: Rhus choriophylla

USDA Symbol: RHVIC

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Evergreen sumac low shrub, growing to about 9 ft. in height. The few branches are maroon-brown and velvety. They bear pale-green, pinnate, evergreen leaves. Creamy-white flowers occur in small, terminal and axillary clusters. They are followed by a velvety-red fruit.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Fruit:
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: AZ , NM , TX
Native Distribution: W. TX to s.e. AZ & n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Dry slopes & hillsides
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: More drought-tolerant than R. virens. Native sumacs make attractive specimen, hedge or background plants and are important wildlife plants. They are fast growing, generally insect and disease-free, and drought-tolerant. Colonies are often single-sexed, formed from a single, suckering parent. Only female plants produce flowers and berries.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Treated seed and root cuttings are used for increase.
Seed Treatment: Rhus seeds germinate poorly without pretreatment. Scarification in acid or hot water is necessary and seeds of many species require cold-moist stratification after scarification.
Commercially Avail: yes

Bibliography

Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

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Additional resources

USDA: Find Rhus virens var. choriophylla in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Rhus virens var. choriophylla in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Rhus virens var. choriophylla

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-04-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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