Edible Staghorn Sumac: How To Harvest & Eat Sumac

19.09.2023 - 07:05 / gardeningknowhow.com

Wild foragers may be aware of a hidden gem that grows wild in North America. It is staghorn sumac. Is staghorn sumac poisonous? This plant is often confused with another sumac that’s in a different genus and can cause topical rashes on contact. Staghorn sumac’s edible red berries are a source of Vitamin C and other nutrients, and make a delicious seasoning or refreshing beverage.

Staghorn sumac’s scientific name is Rhus typhina. There is another plant by the name of Toxicodendron vernix, or poison sumac, that is often confused with the edible sumac. Poison sumac produces white berries, as well as a compound called urushiol, which can cause severe skin reactions. Staghorn sumac produces red berries and has no such adverse reactions.

Both of these plants have compound leaves composed of delicate leaflets, but there the similarities end. Poison sumac is a relatively uncommon plant, while staghorn sumac is abundant across the northern and mid U.S. and into Canada.

Staghorn sumac is a member of the cashew family, and is extremely edible and safe to consume unless you have an allergy to cashew nuts. Among the most common staghorn sumac uses is as “sumacade,” a lemony beverage.

Sumac grows in thickets or solitary. It is a bushy tree that can grow 3 to 33 feet (1 to 10 m) tall. The stems are woody and semi-hairy and adorned with pinnate leaves. Each leaf has 11-31 leaflets that are toothed, green on top, and lighter underneath. The yellowish green flowers are small and not decorative but give way to amazing fruits. They are born in clusters of fuzzy drupes. The ripe fruit is red to brownish-red in color. In addition to humans, birds and small animals feast on the mature fruit.

Sumac berries may be eaten raw, but the fuzzy texture