It also drops lots of leaves despite it's evergreen desciption !!! I have 2 African Sumacs that came up wild in my yard in Vegas. I cannot find any info on how the Sumac seeds would affect an animal. But its also in a corner of the yard that doesn't get much traffic. The African sumac in our front yard has a trunk that's 31 inches d.b.h. If you have a pine tree on your property (or friends or neighbors who do), you can use the needles instead. I love the Sumac. I would normally add another emitter at this age to give it the extra water it needs. Thank you, lazy_gardens Do all of the above have "pool & retaining wall"- friendly root systems? Haven't seen any babies anywhere, darn,or any seeds. I'm near Bell Rd. A bit cold sensitive here, but established plants generally recover. Mmmm, come to think of it, we have lots of messy trees in our yard. My tree is messy, but I don't mind the dead leaves and seeds--it provides an Autumn look that adds character to the backyard. I have probably 150 of the Sumacs around the fence line of a 2 1/2 acre plot. Here is a link that might be useful: African Sumac, It depends on how you're watering...If the African Sumac is on a drip system, which is common in Las Vegas, it is suggested that you water deeply (usually an hour or two) every week or two depending on the weather. Also, suckers make the tree look extremely untidy and can cause them to look uneven. Features. can you keep an apple tree small enough to fit on a balcony but still produce fruit? We are thinking of converting to xeriscape, but if we do we need to make sure the sumac gets enough H2O. Causes contact dermatitis in some people. If they are really that tall, you will have a hard time applying the foliar herbicides I recommended in the last question. and 7thAv. Update: The trees are 15-20 ft.tall. The Mesquite is doing beautifully, as are the Sumacs, but the Sumacs are doing something quite odd. Mine is a female, so it puts on thousands of seeds (nice bitter flavor)starting in January. Sumac (pronounced (/ ˈ sj uː m æ k /) or (/ ˈ s uː m æ k /), and also spelled sumach, sumak, soumak, and sumaq) is any one of about 35 species of flowering plants in the genus Rhus and related genera, in the family Anacardiaceae.It grows in subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world, especially in East Asia, Africa, and North America. These branches must be removed from the tree, because they steal important nutrients meant for the main trunk of the plant. I have them in all sizes. Last year I had my backyard Xeriscaped and all three trees were retained and replanted. We have a African Sumac planted by our landscaper in a small courtyard next to our house. Jwutzke, I would in almost all cases recommend or organic mulch such as bark chips or pine needles around the tree over any type of gravel or other inorganic mulch. It is a versatile spice, and can be added to a meat rub, used as a flavoring in vegetable dishes (such as eggplant), and is the perfect seasoning for homemade hummus.Sumac is an ideal match for lamb and duck as it cuts through the fattiness of the meat. It shows best out by itself where the oriental shape shows best! This will allow wind to pass through without knocking your tree down. Anyone have any comments on that? They work great as wind breaks and privacy screen. The following website has pictures of the other, more common, sumacs, staghorn and winged. ... Prune for shape and to lift canopy. Leaves are palmately divided into 3 narrow leaflets, each 3-5 … Continue reading "African sumac" I live 50 miles sw of las Vegas in Sandy Valley and it does freeze out here in the winter, Star Nursery in Las Vegas told me the sumacs would survive the freeze and may turn a little brown but would be okay? African Sumac Diseases. The gray-green foliage offers soft, large-scale color and the dense, compact habit provides excellent shade. The tree drops its leaves when it is water stressed, has a fungal disease like root rot or from being over fertilized. Also, if anyone needs any seedlings, LMK. The branches of my African Sumac hang over into two different neighbors' yards. The tree produces complicated branch patterns and must be pruned frequently. I transplanted them. I plan on getting two multitrunks and planting them about 25 ft apart. ... even mowing to closely to the roots. While taking African Sumac care, its diseases should be taken into consideration as it affects the health of the plant. I need some ideas of what to plant around my pool that isn't too messy. Gardeners must monitor their African sumac for sucker growth and keep their pruning saw ready. Sumac spreads underground via a rhizomes, which results in the plant sending up suckers. One of the best trees for shade, fast growth, and screening neighbors on the other side of a block wall:). You're welcome Jay. It is effective as a screen or windbreak, and as an evergreen specimen. Are you sure it's sumac and not the tree of heaven? I recently planted an African Sumac, and the leaves are starting to turn yellow. They are very, very fast growing and you can come have as many as you want right out of my back yard. If you are planning on removing a sumac tree, be sure it is not poisonous sumac.