Re: Rhus Staghorn Sumac Hi, Does someone know about pruning Rhus Staghorn Sumac? Mine still has the big red "fruits" and I am wondering if I should trim them off and cut those branches back a few inches now that it is February in Zone 6 British Columbia?
Have seen , after hard pruning, where they can start sending up many root suckers, which gets to be a problem.
Yes, I would prune very little if you don't have a specific reason to. The old, spent brownish fruits can be homely; I might trim those off, without cutting back the branches.
We had one for 30 years and only did a little bit of light thinning, but rarely any top growth removal.
Thank you, M.D.Vaden, Ron B, Chimera, Daniel. I think I'll just leave the "fruits" on, they are quite interesting in the winter anyway, and I sure don't want more suckers!
Do those red "fruits" have to come off before new ones will grow? (Now that it is almost April) If I leave them will the new ones come in? We moved here in August so I have not gone a full year with this tree. Thanks.
The fruits as you called them, can grow each year without removal of the last year's, if that's what you meant. : - )
Thank you. Yes that's what I meant. There are several on the tree and I'm thankful they can stay on. I was worried they might interfere with the coming new growth.
The fruit of this tree can be used to make tea, and apparently has a lemon taste to it. I, my self, haven't yet tried this but I have seen them harvested for this purpose.
