So I had to fish out some pictures from last year to show it in all of its glory between mid July and mid August.
This being mid July point ...
Too bright back lighting on a gray day doesn't do it justice ... but you can see that it does sprout out in what I call wrong places so I have to keep an eye on it to keep it in uniform style.
The "fruit" cones always crack me up a little .. I won't say why here .. I can leave it to your own imagination .. but giving me the finger while I took its picture might be your first clue ?
Aside from the silliness .. this some what under valued tree that is most times "shrub" like .. is a beautiful asset to my unique garden.
These pictures are now mid August ...
The fruit cones really took off early that year .. they were beautiful then and there are still some left for feeding the birds even now .. so wild life benefits from this amazing "tree" for a very long time.
I hope this answers your question Larry ? .. It is cut in a "pollard" style in the Spring .. in fact it needs to be done soon ... the weather is getting warmer and nicer finally !
17 comments:
Joy you are so funny! I love your sense of humor.. I like the Sumac tree too.
Hi Joy,
That really is a pretty tree. It looks exuberant and full of life.
We have a guy coming next week to inspect and prune our big silver maple so it doesn't grow into our house. He found holes in the tree he things are borers of some kind. He said he needs to make sure the tree is safe. It is going to be quite expensive if the tree needs to come down. Larry and I may be in for some conflict, because I do not want to use pesticides on it. We'll have to do some research to make an acceptable decision to both of us. I hope we find a way to keep the tree without using poison.
I like this wooden plank background.
nellie
I really like how you've trained the sumac as a small tree. It adds a lot of textural interest too. Beautiful!
This is a beauty. I just wonder what it would do in my garden. I have a tiger eye sumac that isn't supposed to send runners but guess what...it does.
Hi Vetsy girl : )
Sumacs can be like kids getting into trouble all the time .. you have to WATCH them for more sneaky roots and over gnerous growth but I love mine : )
Hi again Sue ! We also have a service coming to trim back some trees for us (we used to be able to do it but no more) Ah yes .. the decsions that have to be made .. it can get so complicated let alone costly .. hope it goes easier than you are thinking girl!
Hi nellie I thought it was kind of fun too : )
Thank you Cat : ) my husband was doubtful for a few years and then he saw the "light" to my mad scientist ways ? haha
Lisa as far as I know every Sumac does that .. but some are less aggressive than others .. they want to colonize nomatter what .. Stag Horn Sumac is a naughty one so I have to be on it all the time .. but I love it and some Autumns they are unmatched for being gorgeous Fall colours !
Just dig it up and ship it to me!
Your sumac looks amazing. I wonder, do you have any problems with suckering? These plants are known to spread so I'm wondering if you cut back new shoots. I'm thinking of planting some in a new area I'm creating and am slightly concerned about their spread.
My Sumacs have never had cones. They are in a shady wooded area. Could the shade be the reason? A couple are at the edge of the woods...and they don't get cones either. Your tree is wonderful.
Balisha
Darla girl you break me up ! hehehe
I would send you a baby of it but I think customs might get UPSET?LOL
Marguerite .. yes, you are right. These Sumac can be a real problem with the suckering and that is why a lot of gardeners don't have them unless they have a lot of room and can handle a bit of cut back .. I just loved these trees so much I have put up with the problems so far .. they aren't long lived although I have had this one for about 9 years now .. and I have not seen anyone else pollard them as I do . so it is a unique look to my garden : )
Hi Balish : )
there are a lot of different varieties of Sumac .. mine is called Stag Horn but more for the velvety coating on the limbs and the upright "horns" .. the cones should form even in light shade .. my tree is morning/afternoon sun so yes I guess for most of the day.
I'm not sure what the problem is for yours not having cones unless it might be soil related, acidity balance .. but these guys grow just about anywhere in any soil .. maybe another reader might have the answer ? it seems sad not to have cones though eh ?
Thanks so much for the pictures. I love the way your tree looks, although I think you should have posted a picture with you sitting under the tree drinking a margurita. I have a number of sumac at my cottage in Quebec and although they all appear to be staghorn, only some of them get cones.
Thanks again Larry
You are welcome Larry : )
It is puzzling why some trees have great fruit cones while others don't .. sun values, soil, any number of individual reasons could be key to the question .. I am just glad mine feels happy enough to smile ? at me .. and how did you know I love strawberry margaritas ? haha
The Autumn leaves must be gorgeous at your cottage that time of year !
A beautiful tree. Other than food for the birds what are the cones used for?
I had some in N.C. but they were poisonous I think.
Hi Lola .. almost all plants have some what of a poisonous part to them .. potatoes being part of the "night shade" grouping .. Monkshood .. which is a beautiful plant but you use common sense when handling it .. aka "gloves"
I haven't heard of the Sumac being highly poisonous .. in fact those fruit cones were used by the native population for a soothing tea .. I haven't tried it myself but there is information on the net about it .. I just love the tree and it's assorted parts and so do the birds and squirrels (a jungle gym for them ? LOL)
That is one crazy tree. I forgot what it looked like. I do have to say, I don't think any other bloggers have this Sumac.
I'll do some bed redos this spring.
Just need a change and less work for the future. Want to dig a little but mostly sit back and enjoy. Also watch Nurse Jackie.
I think you're right about Dave.
Don't think he wants his 2nd cousin once removed or step brother visiting then staying.
Patsi girl that is what I love about gardening .. we can all be so different ? The only other "different" Sumacs I have ever seen was while we lived in Holland .. I saw some that were trained in a Bonsai manner with intricate twisted trunks but almost full stature .. it was amazing !
YES !! make our gardens easier to maintain and relax enjoying how great they look! ... AND be able to watch Nurse Jackie plus TB !
How good can it get girl ? LOL
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