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Rhus virens

evergreen sumac

Anacardiaceae

Texas, southwestern United States, and Mexico

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–10

Overview

Rhus virens is an evergreen shrub in the sumac family, native to rocky limestone hills, canyons, and slopes of central and western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico. It grows 6-12 feet (1.8-3.6 m) tall and about as wide, with a dense, rounded form. The pinnately compound leaves have five to nine glossy, leathery, oval leaflets 0.5-1.5 inches (1.5-4 cm) long, deep green through the year and flushed reddish when new. In late summer it carries short clusters of small white to cream flowers at the branch tips. These give way on female-flowering plants to clusters of small, red, hairy fruits that ripen in fall and are eaten by birds. Unlike poison sumac, this species does not cause skin irritation. It is highly drought tolerant once established and holds its foliage through mild winters, and is grown as an evergreen screen or hedge in the Southwest. It is slow to establish, frost-sensitive at the edge of its hardiness range, and needs sharp drainage to avoid root rot on heavy soils.

Native Range

Native to central and western Texas, southern New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico, on rocky limestone hills, canyon slopes, and dry woodlands.

Suggested Uses

Used as an evergreen screen, hedge, or specimen in xeriscape and native gardens of the Southwest. The flowers feed bees and butterflies, and the red fruits feed birds into winter. Its drought tolerance and dense evergreen form suit dry slopes and low-water borders.

How to Identify

Identify Rhus virens by its glossy, leathery, evergreen compound leaves of five to nine oval leaflets, with reddish new growth. Small white to cream flowers form in short clusters at the branch tips in late summer. Female plants then carry clusters of small red, hairy fruits, and the foliage does not irritate the skin.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 12'

Width/Spread6' - 12'

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowering occurs in late summer, mainly August into September, in compact clusters of small white to cream flowers. The flowers draw bees and other insects. On female-flowering plants, red, hairy fruits ripen in fall and persist for the birds.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to cream

Foliage Description

glossy deep green, reddish when new

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 8.0(Alkaline)

357912

Soil Types

rocky loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on well-drained rocky, gravelly, or sandy soils, including dry limestone and alkaline sites. It is highly drought tolerant once established and needs little summer water. A soil pH from 6.5 to 8.0 suits it, and heavy, wet soils cause root rot. It is hardy to about USDA zone 8 and may be damaged by hard freezes at the cold edge of its range. Establishment is slow, but mature plants need little care. Pests and diseases are seldom serious.

Pruning

Light pruning to shape is done in late winter before new growth. Plants tolerate shearing and can be kept as a clipped evergreen hedge. Dead or crossing branches are removed at the same time.

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic