# staghorn sumac (*Rhus typhina*) Staghorn sumac is a bushy plant with bright red berries and fuzzy, antler-like branches. It grows in sunny spots and is great for attracting birds and butterflies! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Open fields and sunny areas - **Also known as:** Velvet Sumac ![staghorn sumac](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rhty_002_lhp.jpg&width=800) Photo: The original uploader was Muggwort17 at English Wikipedia ., Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhty_002_lhp.jpg) ## Appearance The staghorn sumac is a striking plant characterized by its thick, fuzzy branches resembling deer antlers in velvet. It produces dense, upright, cone-shaped clusters of bright red berries that persist through winter. Its large leaves transform into vibrant shades of orange, red, and purple in autumn. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Anacardiaceae - **Genus:** Rhus ## Interesting facts - Even when winter arrives, its bright red berry clusters often remain, adding color to snowy landscapes! - Its fuzzy branches feel soft like velvet, reminding people of a deer's antlers! - This hardy plant is often one of the first to grow in places where the ground has been disturbed! - You can steep the tart red berries in water to make a refreshing "sumac-ade" drink! ## Special abilities - **Pioneer Power:** Staghorn sumac can quickly colonize disturbed areas and poor soils, helping other plants grow later. - **Winter Feeder:** Staghorn sumac has persistent, tart red berries that provide a crucial food source for birds and small mammals in winter. - **Rhizome Racer:** Staghorn sumac can spread extensively underground using rhizomes, allowing it to form dense thickets and expand its territory. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-450 cm - **Spread:** 300-600 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Eats the berries in winter - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Consumes berries for food - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar - **Shelter:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Uses dense thickets for cover ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [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. - [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. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always be careful not to touch the berries too much, as they can be sour! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify staghorn 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 staghorn sumac? 300-450 cm ### How wide does staghorn sumac spread? 300-600 cm ### When does staghorn sumac bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is staghorn sumac edible? Yes ### Is staghorn sumac toxic? None ### What is staghorn sumac's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is staghorn sumac pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Carriage Paths, Bridges and Gatehouses](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carriage-paths-bridges-and-gatehouses) — Maine, US · Historic District - [East Windsor Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-windsor-hill-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Historic Moravian Bethlehem Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/historic-moravian-bethlehem-historic-district) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic District - [Jumel Terrace Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jumel-terrace-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Parc Jean-Drapeau](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-jean-drapeau) — Quebec, CA · Park - [Parc linéaire de la rivière Saint-Charles](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-lin-aire-de-la-rivi-re-saint-charles) — Québec, CA · Park [View all places to see staghorn sumac](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/staghorn-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: [Staghorn Sumac: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/staghorn-sumac)