Rhus Species, Chapparal Sumac, Sugar Bush, Sugar Sumac

Rhus ovata is native just outside of Munds Park, Arizona in an area that is literally zone 6b/7a. We where driving down to Phoenix in Feb...Read Moreruary, and we stopped in this area for an hour or so. I started hiking around the Ponderosas just south of the little town because of my research on the area. Its a very interesting place where 5 species of evergreen oaks northern distributions all overlap in this little high elevation area. And low and behold as we walked around looking for Oaks we saw quite a few Rhus ovatas’ growing in the open sunny areas of the Ponderosa/Oak forest. They where looking very green and healthy with those gorgeous tropical looking pink flower buds at the end of winter in such a cold area, it honestly shocked me. I had no idea this plant was native to such cold high elevation areas, as almost everywhere online lists it as hardy to only zone 8a or at the most zone 7b. This area is literally only 25 minutes south of Flagstaff and only 400 feet lower at 6,500 feet elevation. When we where there, their was still patches of snow but it was pretty warm and sunny for February. It was obviously A LOT colder than the low desert further south though (by 30 degrees F). So it turns out Rhus ovata is a lot (and I mean alot) more cold tolerant than it states anywhere online, and should be tested more in higher elevation zone 7 areas in the Southwest/West Coast.

Slow grower here in Tucson, but looks nice and provides "green" in the desert garden.

I haven't grown it - am trying to locate a source. It grows on my property, and I'd love to have more of it. I have several trees - 8-1...Read More2 feet high, and they are pretty, evergreen glossy green leaves, attractive blossoms, and fruit the birds like. It's also said to be fire retardant. Haven't had a problem with runners - perhaps because we are extremely dry here. These trees are never watered artificially - ever. May try propagating from cuttings if I can't find them for sale.

This plant is a garden thug. If it is put into a garden setting, it should be containerized. It propagates by sending out runners which...Read More choke out neighboring plants. Once established it is difficult to remove if the gardner should change their mind.