Cutleaf Sumac

October 12th, 2008

More than half of my daily 40+ kilometre commute to work is spent driving along country roads, giving me the opportunity to observe nature’s continuing mood changes. Most of the land I pass is wide open farm land, but there are enough wooded areas, even a small hill or two, to keep it interesting. I have seen black clouds rolling across the fields, high winds bending and twisting the trees lining the roads. I have watched the lambs of spring playing, the summer crops growing daily,  wild animals running about (testing the brakes and my reflexes) and flocks of birds flying south in autumn. Every day affords a new vista for me to take in. At this time of year, I am treated to bursts of colour provided by the wildflowers growing on the side of the road: White and purple asters, goldenrod, Queen Anne’s lace, thistles and some chickweed. Toss in wild rose hips and apples, brilliant red Virginia creeper, the golden leaves of wild grape, the rainbow of reds, yellows and oranges of sumac and the varied assortment of other trees, and the vibrant show is non-stop. The trip home is seldom long when Nature is providing such delightful entertainment.

 

Autumn is certainly not my favourite season, but I cannot help but be taken by the beauty of this time of year. In particular, sumac entrances me. So much so, that when we moved to this house, cutleaf sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Dissecta’) was on the list of “must have” plants.

 

Having spent a couple of years in our heeling-in garden, last year one sumac was moved to the shrub border. This spring, two more were planted in the same border. Already they have begun to sucker, and we are torn between wanting to control them, and wanting them to control the border. None of the suckers have been removed as yet. We have decided to wait and see what happens. If we like the look of dozens of sumac growing throughout the bed, they will stay. Until they become nuisances. Or interfere with my (most favourite) weeping false cypress (Chamaepcyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’)

 

Rhus typhina ‘Dissecta’ Cutleaf Sumac

 

Height:          6’

 

Width:            10’

 

Location:      Full sun for best fall colour

 

Soil:               Moist, well drained

 

Propagation:From softwood cuttings in summer,

From seed in fall

From suckers in winter or early spring

Male and female plants required to produce fruit

 

Pests:            Scale

Diseases:     Powdery Mildew

                        Leaf spot

                        Verticillium wilt

 

Uses:             Well suited as specimen plant, in borders or to fill large areas quickly

 

 

Other:            Can become quite invasive

                        Young stems are velvety

Low maintenance plant other than its invasive tendency

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