Staghorn Sumac is a native in Wisconsin, but it’s not something you’d want to grow in your backyard. Oh it can thrive just about everywhere and is even used for slope stabilization, but it grows vigorously.
Wildlife like deer and rabbits feed on the plants while over 300 bird species eat the fuzzy fruit.
When I was in 6th grade our teacher took us on a walk around our village, and when we got to to a sumac shrub he broke off the berries and had us taste them. I remember them being weirdly-hairy and a bit sour. I’m glad the birds like them!
Bees and butterflies also feed on the flowers and leaves of this plant. If it wasn’t so aggressive it would be fun to plant in a backyard because those leaves are a blazing scarlet-red each fall.
And this time of year the dark-red fruits really stand out when everything else has gone dormant for the winter.
