Medicinal plant
Sumac
Rhus typhina
A tart, vitamin-rich fruit drink. Also called Velvet Sumac.
This is staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), an astringent traditionally used from various plant parts. The red fruit clusters are especially valued as a tart, vitamin-rich culinary preparation.
Properties
Astringent — Tightens and tones tissues; often drying
Energetics
Cooling Drying Toning
Do not confuse edible sumacs with unrelated poison sumac, which has pale/whitish berries and grows in wetland conditions.
Growing and using it
Life cycle
Deciduous perennial shrub/small tree.
What to buy
A young straight-species staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) shrub or sapling.
Best way to start
Nursery-grown plant, sucker, or rooted division.
Seed starting
Possible but slower and requires seed dormancy treatment; not the easiest way to establish it.