Vinegar tree planting and care in the open field

Deer-horned sumac (vinegar tree) is a plant of the sumach family that grows in eastern North America, primarily in the northeastern United States of America and southeastern Canada.

Biological description

Reindeer sumac is a deciduous tree with a height of three to ten meters. Leaves with multiple 6-11 cm leaflets (from 9 to 31), odd-pinnate, reach 25-55 cm in length. Young petioles and branches are covered with velvety hairs. The reddish-brown flowers are collected in cone-shaped dense panicles with a diameter of four to six centimeters and a length of ten to twenty centimeters. Fruits in the form of small red drupes, collected in panicles. In the autumn period, the foliage of sumach acquires a bright red color.

Usage

The vinegar tree, which we have just described, is cultivated as an ornamental plant. Landscape designers love it due to its unpretentiousness, stability and beautiful appearance.

This tree is a kind of chameleon. In the springtime, it dresses in a green robe, and in the fall it becomes darker and shimmers with brown, orange, red ... One gets the impression that such an incredible beauty was created especially for cozy gardens! However, only at first glance, sumy seems so unassuming. It is quite difficult to grow a vinegar tree, and everyone who dares to shelter a beautiful plant on their site can be convinced of this.

An interesting "outfit" makes it possible to recognize an exotic guest very quickly. Plants native to warm regions are covered with red leaves in autumn. Based on this, at the sight of a reddish crown, one can immediately state that there is a sun lover in front of you, capable of surviving in arid conditions. However, such knowledge is not enough to grow a vine-like tree, so we will tell you more about it.

Why is sumy called deer-horned?

In appearance, the low tree is somewhat similar to a palm tree. It also has a lush crown and spreading branches, decorated on both sides with long thin leaves. But the trunk of the plant does not look like an exotic one, and its fruits cannot be eaten.

Where did the word "deer-horned" come from in the name? The answer is very simple: the fact is that the outstretched branches with thin leaves resemble deer antlers in appearance. Only the dimensions are seriously different: a vinegar tree can grow up to twelve meters in height! Although, to be honest, such giants are very rare, usually sumakhs up to two meters in height grow in yards and dachas.

Bloom

A vinegar tree blooms in the middle of summer. Panicles appear at the ends of the branches, covering with fluff in a matter of days. They are somewhat reminiscent of a chestnut blossom, but their particles are more intertwined with each other, and therefore form whole flowers. Some sumacs bloom in white, others in dark red. Burgundy flowers resemble velvet, and whites are more fluffy, so the plant looks irresistible in both cases!

Sumy in winter

In winter, the vinegar tree bears fruit! At this time, it looks incredibly beautiful.The fruits are small, dark red bunches located at the ends of the branches. They are about the same size as the flowers of the plant with burgundy panicles. The fruits are collected in clusters and decorated with a short fuzz.

When choosing a vinegar tree for your site, you should pay attention to its floor. Do you want to enjoy not only the beauty of flowers, but also the sight of the fruits? In this case, get a female. On the branches, small fruits with a dark red fleecy surface, collected in vertical dense brushes, are perfectly preserved.

The vinegar tree is a dioecious plant, and this must be taken into account when planting. Erect inflorescences have a racemose shape, consist of many discreet, small flowers. Dense inflorescences, which reach twenty centimeters in length, are surrounded by leaves and located at the tips of the branches.

Sumach preferences

Vinegar trees used to be a real rarity. Gardeners for the sake of the appendage of such a handsome man were ready to travel almost through the entire Soviet Union. Solemnly bringing home an exotic plant, they planted it in front of the window in the most conspicuous place and admired it day after day. It is good if the tree did not cause trouble for the owner. Although this behavior can be called a rarity. Usually the deer-horned sumac grows and becomes a real problem for the gardener.

For its cultivation, the main condition is a large area. It is needed not only so that the vinegar tree can spread its root shoots around, but also to effectively fight them. If you have somewhere to turn around, it is much easier to uproot the extra trees. In addition to the large space, the deer-horned sumac loves intense sunlight. Therefore, if you want to admire the beautiful crown that resembles a palm tree, make sure that the plant regularly takes sun baths.

Planting a vinegar tree

As it seems at first glance, there is nothing super complicated in planting sumac. However, you still need to know some tricks, they will help to grow this handsome man on the site. In general, in the wild, the plant has quite "Spartan" growing conditions: it lives among stones, and in this regard it cannot be called whimsical. The vinegar tree can grow even in sandy loam soil, where zucchini does not grow. However, for sumac, it is very important to have a lot of sunlight, so you should choose an unshaded place for planting.

Before planting a seedling, the roots must be cut in such a way that roots up to twenty centimeters long remain at the trunk. Then you need to dig a hole 50 by 50 centimeters in size, place a plant seedling in it and fix it with earth. It is advisable to immediately water the tree with water.

And one more important point: the deer-horned sumac does not like winds. If you have several buildings in your country house, for example, a house, a barn, a bathhouse, choose a place for an exotic handsome man so that it does not grow in the draft formed by these buildings.

Vinegar tree: care

Among the sumakh, despite the exoticism, there are very few frozen grounds. In winter, as a rule, they do not freeze over, unless we are talking about very cold winters. In this case, if the frozen branches cannot be restored in the spring, they must be almost completely cut off, leaving no more than thirty centimeters from the trunk. Then such a "haircut" will play the decorative effect of the tree for the benefit, because it will grow not in height, but in width. Therefore, the frozen deer-horned sumac will decorate the site even better than the "hardened" one. Well, if you want to avoid freezing, prepare the vinegar tree for winter the same autumn when you plant. To do this, cover the ground around the trunk with peat, dry leaves or hay.

As for fertilizers, this plant can be left without feeding. After all, he, despite the external splendor, is accustomed to growing in poor soil.In addition, deer-horned sumac practically does not become infected with diseases, so there is no need to spray it. Therefore, if you love beautiful plantings that do not require much maintenance, vinegar tree is ideal for you. If the main thing for you is to extract benefits, it is better to plant fruit trees on the site and collect a rich harvest from them!

One of the most ancient plants on our planet - sumac can boast not only dyeing and tanning properties, but also decorativeness. Among the dozens of species of this large, but elegant and spreading plant with luxurious feathery leaves, a special place is occupied by deer-horned sumac - a vinegar tree. Slow-growing, not exceeding 5 meters, he is recognized as one of the best soloists among large woody ones. Its main advantage is its high decorative effect from early spring to spectacular leaf fall, which is replaced by winter fruit decorations.

Deer-horned sumac, or Furry sumac, Vinegar tree (Rhus typhina)

Sprawling miracle with luxurious leaves

Sumakh can be easily recognized at a glance. Low deciduous trees, gradually expanding so wide that they seem almost bushy, attract attention both by the structure of the crown and luxurious foliage. Feathery, with simple lobes, on rounded or winged petioles, with inconspicuous flowers collected in spectacular panicles and candle-shaped inflorescence spikelets and a bright autumn color of the crown make sumac one of the most impressive woody ones.

Sumac fluffy or deer-horned (rhus typhina) we are better known under the name of the vinegar tree. This woody one is considered one of the most ornate. The ceremonial, catchy beauty attracts admiring glances to the sumach and makes it one of the best purely decorative candidates for the status of a family tree. The combination of unusual feathery foliage and an extravagant crown pattern, spreading in breadth, almost bushy, cannot but admire. And the sumy retains its attractiveness all year round.

The vinegar tree in garden culture rarely grows to 4-6 m (not to mention the natural ten-meter height), most often being limited to 3 meters. It grows straight, a little strictly only at a very young age, then wide shoots show themselves with might and main. The older the sumac becomes, the more it grows in width, becoming more and more sprawling, luxuriously spreading. Surprisingly powerful, fast-growing branches require a considerable area for sumach. But the spectacle of bizarrely curving branches, which can only be appreciated in winter, fully compensates for the girth of the crown.

And the older the vinegar tree gets, the more beautiful it looks. Sumach shoots are light, brownish, thick, and the truth is somewhat reminiscent of deer antlers. Leaves are pinnate, with lobes up to 12 cm long. Each complex leaf has from 11 to 31 leaves, while the surface of the leaf plates resembles velvet, the shape is pointed, long, the denticles are large along the edge, and the underside of the leaves is whitish. The huge feathery leaves of sumach, already forming a fabulous crown in the summer, seem to be engulfed in a crimson fire in autumn, and the tree itself turns into hardly the brightest color spot in the garden except for maples. But even with the fall of the foliage, the decorative show of the deer-horned sumach does not end: the inflorescences are replaced by the same spectacular pyramids-panicles of seed fruits that do not attract birds and decorate the bushes like a luxurious garland.

Deer-horned sumac, or fluffy sumac, Vinegar tree

This sumac blooms in June and July, joining the powerful explosion of colors in early summer. The flowers are small, but are collected in pyramidal inflorescences up to 20 cm in height with a densely hairy axis, seem to be dense and lacy. The plant is dioecious. In inflorescences of sumach, there are red pistillate and lime staminate flowers. After flowering, spheroid-shaped drupes covered with red bristles are tied, which remain in the pyramids until spring.

The deer-horned sumach has several decorative forms.The lanceolate form (laciniata) differs from the base culture only in thin, lanceolate leaf lobes with deeper denticles. The form of reindeer-horned sumach "Dissecta" is considered to be especially attractive. It is a unique woody, whose feathery leaves, painted in a bluish-silvery tone, resemble graceful fern frond. And the seed fruits of this variety are very bright, carmine.

Other types of sumac

Despite the fact that more than a hundred species of sumac are found in nature, the use of these tree species in landscaping as ornamental plants is significantly limited. Firstly, almost all types of sumac are arboreal for medium to large gardens. And secondly, there are species in the genus that are so poisonous that even accidental contact with foliage causes burns on the skin (for example, poisonous sumac (rhus toxicodendron, today classified as Toxicodendron fluffy (Toxicodendron pubescens). As decorative, in addition to vinegar, only 2 non-toxic types are used:

• sumac fragrant (Rhus aromatica) - creeping shrub limited to 1 m in height, individual branches of which can grow up to 3 m in length. Spectacular, catchy, slow-growing, it blooms from the age of five, invites you to admire the pale openwork pyramids in the second half of June;
• sumac naked (Rhus glabra) - a species that is often confused with the deer-horned sumac; compact bushy tree up to 3 m in height with beautiful umbellate crown outlines, bare shoots, complex feathery leaves, consisting of large lanceolate lobes up to 12 cm long. The entire leaf grows up to half a meter in length. A beautiful bright color, a jagged edge give the leaves a special elegance, and in the fall they turn orange and carmine. Dense panicles with red female flowers and looser panicles with whitish male flowers simultaneously bloom on the plant. Inflorescences reach 20 cm in length, very showy. Fruits are spherical, flattened, bristly, hold in seedlings literally all winter, ripening in September. It can bloom not only in June, but also again in early autumn.

Sumac fragrant, or aromatic (Rhus aromatica)

The use of sumac in ornamental gardening

The vinegar tree is one of those woody ones that are more suitable for the role of soloists. The beauty of the sumach is spectacular, it is a textural plant with extraordinary foliage. But since they require large areas and do not like close proximity, it is better to plant them in the role of large single accents or in such compositions in which sumach will be surrounded by short and strict companions. Excellent for strengthening slopes and soil, in places of erosion, as a major dominant in rockeries and alpine slides. Especially effective on large lawns and flat areas. Outwardly, the vinegar tree is perceived almost as a relative of palm trees, exotic, catchy, surprisingly effective. It is impossible to get used to its appearance. The beauty of sumach is perfectly emphasized by conifers. When planting a vinegar tree, it is better to focus on autumn and winter: it is placed where the landscape is boring in the cold season, because a bright autumn outfit and beautiful patterns of branches and seed fruits make sumac one of the best decorations in a winter garden.

Despite its rather large size in nature, in the garden culture, sumy is limited to a modest 3 meters of maximum height, develops in breadth, and not upward. The plant can be used not only in large gardens, but also as the main tree in small areas.

Breeding deer-horned sumach

Reindeer sumac is considered one of the best arboreal, capable of growing well in poor soils and even in polluted urban conditions. It is a light-loving plant that prefers open sun areas.

The only difficulty in selecting conditions for reindeer-horned sumach is the plant's preference for soil composition. This woody plant grows well only in sandy, sandy-stony, sandy-clayey soils.Sumy prefers dry and loose garden soils, does not tolerate high groundwater and waterlogging, dense soils, but can withstand medium-moist and moist drained soil types. Undoubted "plus" - sumach can put up with insignificant salinity and settle where most of the classic woody ones will not grow.

Deer-horned sumac, or fluffy sumac, Vinegar tree

Vinegar tree care

In fact, the deer horned sumach does not need any care at all. This plant is not afraid of even severe droughts and does not require watering, it is heat-resistant, capable of surprising with a repeated wave of flowering. There is no need to make fertilizing for this woody tree.

One of the key features of this species of sumach is the ban on pruning. Admire the unique twists of the branches and the bizarre crown pattern only in mature trees, on old, untouched shoots. All pruning procedures are reduced to the removal of dry, damaged branches, that is, to sanitary measures. If you want to succeed in growing it, then the plant is better allowed to develop freely. But if the tree itself is not touched, then the root shoots will have to be fought relentlessly. Sumac grows very actively, releases numerous root shoots, and in this it is similar to wild or old garden cherries. And if you do not remove the sprouts, then sumac will literally fill everything around.

Sumac practically does not get sick, does not attract garden pests.

Sumach wintering

Despite the fact that the deer-horned sumac freezes in the middle lane, it does not need protection for the winter and grows well without any shelter. The shoots of this tree have time to lignify only 2/3 of the length, but it quickly recovers and traces of winter damage are practically not visible on the vinegar tree.

Deer-horned sumac, or Furry sumac, Vinegar tree (Rhus typhina)

Sumach breeding

Sumac is one of the rare woody species that is best propagated vegetatively. At the same time, the main disadvantage of the plant turns into a real surprise: the active release of root shoots allows you to constantly get new plant specimens. Seedlings separated from the mother bush adapt very well to a new place.

But getting this kind of sumach from seeds is a real challenge. Seed germination lasts only 3-4 years, while the maximum rates of 2% are rare. And the seedlings are not viable (even those plants that can be weakened, unlike those obtained from the shoots, will die out in 15-20 years). Germination of sumach seeds requires a two-month stratification, germination is increased by treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid and scalding (acid treatment should last 50 minutes, and the seeds are dipped into boiling water immediately after the procedure).

The vinegar tree will be able to compete with many ornamental trees not only in beauty, but also in unpretentiousness. One large leaf of a tree can have up to 28 small leaves. It has a particularly graceful and expressive appearance in the fall, when all the leaves are painted in different shades of yellow, green, red. Flowering - first until mid-summer. The inflorescences appear to be lush, solid cones. Fruits of some species are used to make seasonings. They are renowned for their antioxidant properties. Wood tannins used for dyeing and tanning leather. The healing properties of sumach were used in the Middle Ages. It is also actively used by many beekeepers.

Sumy has about 200 species, which may differ in appearance and have different growing conditions.

Types of vinegar tree

• Fragrant. It grows to a height of no more than 2 meters. Inflorescences are yellow, like an ear. The fruits are bright red colors. There is a large bone in the middle.
• Deerhorn. The most common, lush and beautiful view. It grows up to 10 m. The leaves are large, slightly velvety. The inflorescences look like dense panicles. The variety is distinguished by a large amount of root growth.
• Chinese.It has small flowers, collected in a spike, with a whitish tint. The place of growth is Asia.
• Tannic. The average height of the trees is 5 meters. Leaves can be up to 18 cm long in white or greenish shades. Panicle inflorescences - up to 25 cm. Ripe fruits are brown-red in color.

Landing rules

1. It conquered many gardeners with its unpretentiousness and undemanding care. It can grow on almost any soil, even where ordinary trees will not grow. If you have a choice where to plant, then you can choose saline or acidic soils, sandy loam. Planting on poor rocky or dry soils is also normal.
2. Pick-up location... Deer-horned sumac loves well-lit places. In partial shade (and even more so in completely dark places), it is not advisable to plant it. The plant can withstand any temperature conditions of a temperate climate: both heat and severe frosts. But a strong squall wind can be destructive for him, so it is better not to land in open areas.

Planting process

1. Growing a seedling. It is not so difficult to get it, since you can use the young shoots that give the roots. To do this, just look at the healthiest of them and dig it out using a shovel with a sharp edge. Due to the fact that the plant not only grows from the root, but also tries from it, it is better to dig deeper.
2. Sapling conservation. If a young tree is not planted immediately: it is necessary to transport it or simply postpone planting for several days, several measures must be taken to preserve it. Place young roots in a plastic bag, before which, wrap them with woolen cloth or pour sawdust into the bag at the root level. This will reduce the risk of root damage and drying out. In such conditions, they can be stored for up to 6-8 days.
3. Preparing for landing and landing. Depending on the size of the roots, the planting hole should be at least 40 by 40 cm. Before placing the seedling there, a mixture of earth and humus is poured into the hole, a bucket of water is poured into the hole. Plant only after the water has completely entered the soil. It is worth filling the seedling at the mark that it grew before. Usually it is clearly visible. Already planted sumac is again watered in the area of ​​the roots. Sumac does not require fertilizers, but when used, it will take root much faster and start growing. In the future, he can thank the gardener with flowering and a gorgeous crown.
4. Planting seed sumac. There is nothing difficult in such a landing.... Having dug a shallow hole (15−20 cm), put a little fertilizer mixed with the soil there, lay a bone and sprinkle it well with earth. Shoots, however, need to wait about a month. If you choose this method, you need to remember that the hard shell of the bone must be damaged before planting so that the sprout can appear. Otherwise, it may simply not pass through the thick peel. Many experienced gardeners consider it a big mistake to grow seed sumac. Such plants are most often weak and unviable. Caring for young seed-grown trees requires special conditions. This process is often very difficult for those who have been gardening not so long ago.

Features of proper care

The tree gives a lot of growth. Therefore, deciding to plant it at home, you need to be prepared for this. It is very difficult to get rid of it, because you need to constantly destroy.

1. Watering. Sumac tolerates well even dry periods without watering. But in hot weather, it is still worth pampering it with water (not waterlogging) at least once every 1-2 weeks. This will improve flowering and revitalize the foliage.
2. Top dressing. The tree practically does not need them. The maximum possible amount of mineral dressings is once a year. More frequent fertilization can backfire or even kill the plant.
3. Pruning. In its natural habitat, the vinegar tree can grow up to 10 meters.At the same time, it has a drawback - it poorly tolerates severe frosts. And in areas where there are severe frosts in winter, the upper branches can freeze out. Thus, in the spring, pruning of branches that are frozen is considered a mandatory procedure. This procedure can give a stronger impetus to the growth of young kidneys.
4. Preparation for wintering. The tree rarely dies due to severe frosts, even without shelter. A powerful root system also contributes to this. In case of frostbite and further pruning of branches, they grow back rather quickly.
5. Pest control. Sumac is rarely affected by pests and diseases. Even hares do not touch the bark of a tree. Sometimes it is possible to be affected by fungal infections (mainly with waterlogging).

Vinegar tree in landscape design

The vinegar tree is a showy plant that is often equated with something exotic. It has unusual foliage and grows very quickly, so you need to leave a lot of space for it. It has been very important in recent years in landscape design, but it is often used either as a single accent, or undersized trees are chosen as neighbors. Looks good on alpine slides and rockeries as dominant. Thanks to its powerful root system, it is also used as a means to strengthen slopes and soil.

Its spectacularity is also emphasized by conifers, especially in autumn, when bright, variegated, slightly velvety foliage and sumac seedlings are perfectly combined with strict green conifers.

If at home a tree can reach and 10 meters high, then in Europe, thanks to the formation of the crown with the help of pruning, it does not grow more than 3-5 meters.

One of its many disadvantages is its fragility. One tree does not grow in one place for over 20 years. But it can be easily "restored" thanks to the young growth.

Small fruits appear on the tree in autumnthat taste sour. Most grow the tree for decorative purposes only. And the peoples of the southern countries make not only a spice from the fruit, but also make a fragrant sour wine. It turns out from them good vinegar, especially relevant for marinades.

>> Vinegar tree

One of the most common ornamental trees is Deer-horned Sumac or vinegar tree, photo and description of which, the content of our article.

Sumakh has earned so much attention due to the fact that it is unpretentious, has many useful properties and is the main decoration of any yard.

Its huge leaves give a pleasant shade in summer and spring, and in autumn they take on incredibly bright colors.

What does it look like

Reindeer sumac is a deciduous tree that grows up to 10 meters. It has odd-pinnate leaves, similar to the common mountain ash, approximately 20-55 cm long.

Young leaves and branches are covered with velvet hairs. The flowers are red-brown in color and are collected in volumetric cone-shaped panicles about 15 centimeters long.

After flowering, small red fruits are formed, inside which there is a stone. The Sumakhov family is characterized by yellow, orange and red leaves in autumn.

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Deer-horned sumac

It is interesting that the Sumakh genus has about 200 species, among them the most common are:

• Deerhorn - the most beautiful representative of the genus, about 10 meters high. It has large leaves, flowers are collected in dense panicles. The fruits are small red drupes.
• Fragrant - a small shrub no more than two meters in height, the leaves are cut into three sessile ones, the upper part of the leaves is smooth and dark green, the lower one is pubescent and lighter. Flowers, collected in an ear, are yellowish. The fruits are large, bright red with one large stone inside.
• Chinese - grows in Asian countries. The flowers are small, clustered in a spike, whitish.
• Tannic - a typical representative of the genus, shrub 5 meters in height. Leaves are about 14-17 cm, odd-pinnate.The flowers are white or greenish-white, collected in panicles up to 25 cm long. Ripe fruits are reddish-brown in color.

When it blooms

The vinegar tree begins to bloom in early June or July.

Due to their splendor, they seem to be solid cones, which, like a New Year's star, stand on a tree. Importantly, this species has several varieties (Dissecta and Laciniata), which may differ slightly from each other.

Application in landscape design

Its lush and rich form makes the crop look perfect on empty lawns, spreading out like an acacia on a Safari. Combines with coniferous crops.

It should be noted that the culture in the garden reaches a maximum of 5 meters. The important thing is that it can be planted in poor and dry soil. The main condition for growth is a sufficient amount of light and the absence of waterlogging.

Care features

The culture does not require any maintenance at all. It easily tolerates droughts, does not require watering, and can bloom several times per season.

Interestingly, pruning is not required either, or rather, it is completely prohibited (with the exception of sanitary procedures). But this tree also has a huge drawback! Root shoots can fill an entire garden, with sprouts similar in abundance to wild cherries.

Preparing for winter

This tree hibernates in our climate without problems, sometimes it can freeze slightly, but this is not scary and does not require special protection measures. Any damage in winter is quickly restored and during flowering it becomes just as lush and beautiful.

Reproduction

It is best to use vegetative propagation; root shoots are perfect for this. This is practical enough and does not require trips to markets and shops to find a seedling or seeds.

note: It is a mistake to try to grow sumac from seeds, as it is almost impossible. The important thing is that even if the seed succeeds in germinating, the seedling is likely to be weak and almost unviable. This is a very difficult process that novice gardeners should better avoid.

If your garden has an empty and sunny area, plant Sumy on it. This plant will create a unique atmosphere of a Mediterranean garden.

How to plant a vinegar tree and how to care for it, see the tips in the following video: