Staghorn Sumac (Wild Lemonade Bush) (Rhus typhina)

Family: Anacardiaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

Striking deciduous shrub with velvet-furred branches resembling deer antlers in velvet, topped by erect, dense crimson cones coated in tangy malic acid hairs.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Berries, Shoots

Harvest Seasons: Late Summer, Fall

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Bright, citrusy, mouth-watering sour like fresh lemons and wild cranberries with hint of green tea. — Infused in cold water and strained through cheesecloth for refreshing wild "Sumac-ade"; Dried berries ground into Middle-Eastern/Native za'atar style seasoning; Reduced into sour wild glazes for roasted game and poultry

Habitat & North American Range

Dry gravelly banks, abandoned fields, sunny roadsides, and edge habitats. (Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)