| Common Name |
Skunkbush sumac, Three-leaf Sumac, Basket Bush |
| Latin Name |
Rhus trilobata |
| Native Habitat |
Dry slopes of mountains of California. from 3,000 to
6,000 feet east as far as Texas |
| Soil |
Dry to moist, decomposed granite, sand, clay loam,
limestone, low to some organic content, well drained |
| Water |
Once to twice per month depending on soil in hot weather |
| Height X Width |
To 8 feet X 8 feet feet, usual 5 feet X 5 feet |
| Protective Mechanism |
None |
| Leaves |
Three leaflets, green to dark red in fall,
deciduous |
| Garden Suitability |
Thornless, Songbird |
| Ornamental Value |
Small white or yellow flowers in mid-spring, red berries, leaves turn
reddish in fall, deciduous |
| Nature Value |
Fruit eaten by birds and mammals |
| Native American Uses |
Branches used for cradles, fishing tools, and baskets. Leaves mixed
with tobacco and smoked. Berries used to make beverages. Berries mixed
with cornmeal to make porridge. Plant used to make dye.
Medicinal.
|
| Links |
|
| Data |
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Rhus+trilobata |
| Images and data |
http://www.scienceviews.com/plants/skunkbush.html |
| Nursery, images and data |
http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/573.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/DENDROLOGY/Syllabus2/factsheet.cfm?ID=564 |
| Nursery, images and
data |
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/82560/ |
| Distribution map |
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=RHTR |
| Images |
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Rhus+trilobata |
| Images and data |
http://www.henriettesherbal.com/pictures/p12/pages/rhus-trilobata.htm |
| Note: |
This plant is related to poison
oak and persons highly sensitive to poison oak should not handle or
ingest the plant. |
