[Arid_gardener] RE: African Sumac

[Christine M. Bahto]

ORIGINAL QUESTION:
Date: Tue, 22 May 2007 08:59:33 -0700 (MST)
From: Vickie_Hoagland at mchsi.com

85242

Could you tell me if African Sumac trees are smelly or if they are a dirty
tree or any of the bad traits of these trees?

ANSWER:
Vickie,

The Arizona Native Plant Society lists the African Sumac as an invasive weed
producing abundant seeds and spreads by underground suckers which compete
with native trees for water.

On a personal note, I live in an older neighborhood where there are several
African Sumacs including 2 that were growing in my backyard. I've removed
the ones in my backyard over a year ago and still see seedlings popping up
every now and then. One house even has one growing out of the trunk of a
Canary Date Palm! Where ever you see one mature tree there are dozens of
saplings growing near by.

Hope this helps,
Christine Bahto
Master Gardener, Maricopa County, U of A Cooperative Extension