Native Plant Database

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Ovate
Leaf Margin: Entire
Leaf Texture: Leathery
Size Notes: Spreading shrub to 15 feet.
Leaf: Shiny green above, pale below.
Flower:
Fruit: Red. 1/8 inch.
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA
Native Distribution: Baja & s. CA, usually away from coast, to c. AZ
Native Habitat: Slopes; mesas; chaparral; 3000-5000 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Dry soils.
Conditions Comments: Extremely drought-tolerant. Somewhat fire-proof if given a once/month watering in the summer. Sumac colonies are often single-sexed, formed from a single, suckering parent. Only female plants produce flowers and berries.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Sometimes planted for erosion control and landscaping in mountainous areas, this common species is also an attractive ornamental which can be sheared.
Use Wildlife: Food for many upland gamebirds, songbirds, large and small mammals.
Use Food: The edible fruit with thin pulp is sweet and was used as a sweetener by Indians; however, the large seeds are not eaten.
Attracts: Birds

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Treated seed and root cuttings are used for increase.
Seed Treatment: Soak in tap water 24 hours and immediately sow the seeds that swell. Boil the rest in water and cool immediately.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1984 VOL. 1, NO.4 - Lady Bird Heartened by Progress, Horticultural Society Annual Meeting Held, Dire...

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Rhus ovata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Rhus ovata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Rhus ovata