Michaux's Sumac Rhus michauxii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- RHOOS mih-SHOW-ee-eye
- Description
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Michaux's Sumac was historically unique to the Inner Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Its natural habitat includes dry, open, rocky, or sandy woodlands over bedrock with high levels of calcium, magnesium, or iron. It can be found growing in disturbed locations such as highway rights-of-way, roadsides, sites that have been damaged by fire, or at the edges of artificially maintained clearings.
It will spread by suckers to form colonies. These suckers can reach lengths of up to 20'.
Female flowers and male flowers are on separate plants. Due to habitats being fragmented, often the male and female are isolated from each other. This does not allow the plant to reproduce sexually. Pollinators for this particular species have not been noted. Existing populations of this plant are protected and managed to protect their future. It is listed by both Federal and State as an endangered species.
It is a host plant for the larvae of the Luna moth (Actias luna).
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Not recommended for home landscapes.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rhus
- Species:
- michauxii
- Family:
- Anacardiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North Carolina and South Carolina
- Distribution:
- FL, GA, NC, SC, VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Host plant for the Luna moth.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- Female plants have red compressed drupes. The seeds are often sterile.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- 6-8 in. panicle of yellowish green flowers in summer; female plants have red compressed drupes
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, pinnate compound dark green leaves; 9 to 15 leaflets; yellow-orange to purplish red fall color
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Young shoots have a reddish tinge.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Attracts:
- Moths
