a personal favorite

staghorn sumac is one of my all-time favorite native shrubs. the fruits are just starting to turn red right now. the berries are edible and have a lemony tartness—ground into a spice they are used a lot in middle easter cuisine. they can also be made into a lemonade. natural dyers love them for their high tannic (light safe) dyes. i love them for their unique branching, the way the shiny upper and dull lower leaves catch the light on windy summer days. and for the spectacular fall leaf color they provide every september. a staggering shrub.

staghorn sumac fruit (Rhus typhina)