# evergreen sumac (*Rhus virens*) Evergreen sumac is a green shrub that stays leafy all year round! It has small, tasty berries that many animals love to eat. This plant can grow tall and is great for making gardens beautiful. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Desert ![evergreen sumac](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Evergreen-Sumac-c_%284487584824%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Homer Edward Price, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Evergreen-Sumac-c_%284487584824%29.jpg) ## Appearance The evergreen sumac has glossy, dark green leaves that stay vibrant all year. Its branches often display a reddish tint, contrasting with the foliage. In fall and winter, it's adorned with dense clusters of fuzzy, reddish-brown berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Anacardiaceae - **Genus:** Rhus ## Interesting facts - Ancient people sometimes used parts of sumac plants for dyeing fabrics. - Its tart berries can be steeped in water to create a refreshing, lemonade-like drink! - The fuzzy berries get their sour taste from malic acid, just like apples! - This tough plant can thrive in rocky soils where many other plants give up. ## Special abilities - **Winter Food Source:** Evergreen sumac has persistent berries that stay on the plant through winter, helping to feed hungry birds. - **Erosion Guardian:** Evergreen sumac has strong, spreading roots that hold soil in place, preventing it from washing away. - **Year-Round Green:** Evergreen sumac keeps its tough, waxy leaves all year, allowing it to photosynthesize even in cooler months. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-500 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring-early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect - **C:** 150-400 C ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Robins feast on its persistent berries in winter. - **Eaten by:** [Cedar Waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing) (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) — Waxwings are drawn to its fruit clusters for winter meals. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Honey bees visit its small flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer may browse its leaves, especially when food is scarce. ## Traits - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch the berries unless an adult says it's okay! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify evergreen sumac? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is evergreen sumac? 200-500 cm ### How big are the flowers on evergreen sumac? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does evergreen sumac bloom? Late spring-early summer ### Is evergreen sumac edible? Yes ### Is evergreen sumac toxic? None ### What is evergreen sumac's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is evergreen sumac pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Kentucky Camp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kentucky-camp) — Arizona, US · Historic Site - [Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lady-bird-johnson-wildflower-center) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden - [Friedrich Wilderness Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/friedrich-wilderness-park) — Texas, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see evergreen sumac](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/evergreen-sumac) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Evergreen Sumac: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/evergreen-sumac)