Rhus (aromatica)

John Vandevender Center Manager USDA NRCS - Appalachian Plant Materials Center P. O. Box 390 Alderson, West Virginia 24910 304-445-3005 John.vandevender@wv.usda.gov http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/wvpmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Anacardiaceae
Family Common Name:	Sumac family
Scientific Name:	Rhus aromatica Aiton
Common Name:	fragrant sumac
Species Code:	RHAR4
Ecotype:	Stones River
General Distribution:	Common throughout the eastern two-thirds of the United States with the exception of Maine, Rhode Island, Delaware and North Dakota. It is found at various locations throughout the Stones River National Battlefield along with other sumac.
Known Invasiveness:	None
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	1+0 container
Time To Grow:	1 Years
Target Specifications:	A second spring seedling ranging in height from 6" to 18" and having a compact, well developed root system.
Propagule Collection:	Mature fruit was hand harvested from populations of Rhus aromatica growing within the confines of Stones River National Battlefield.
Propagule Processing:	Seed can be hand stripped from the plants from September to November or entire seedhead may be clipped. Seedheads were broken apart using a hammermill. Seed was cleaned using a rubber roll huller to remove outer seed covering. As seed covering is oily, chaff was not easily separated using clipper fanning mill. Seed and seedcoat chaff were separated by floating off chaff and nonviable seed in water. Seed that sank in water was saved, air dried, and used for planting.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Mechanical scarification for 15 seconds using a Forsberg seed scarifier.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Pro-mix BX with biofungicide was moistened and placed in heavy plastic trays. The soil was compacted somewhat to prepare a firm seedbed.
Establishment Phase:	Seed was spread evenly by hand on the soil surface and then covered with 1/8 to 1/4 inch of additional soil. The top layer was pressed down slightly to ensure good seed to soil contact. The seed was then artificially cold stratified at 35-38 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 days. Upon completion of cold stratification, seed was moved to the greenhouse to stimulate germination.
Length of Establishment Phase:	1 month
Active Growth Phase:	Once the seedlings had developed sufficient root systems, they were transplanted into 1 gallon plastic pots filled with Metro-mix 510 growing medium. Transplants were maintained at a minimum of 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the greenhouse under automatic watering and natural lighting.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	6 - 9 months
Hardening Phase:	Plants were moved into a shadehouse which provided a minimum of 50 percent shade to allow for hardening off before shipping.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Plants with sufficient top growth were loaded on trailers and shipped back to the Stones River National Battlefield. Trailers were covered with tarps to prevent wind burn.
Length of Storage:	2 days
Other Comments:	Fragrant sumac is usually considered to be a pioneering species which invades disturbed sites, fencerows, roadsides, abandoned fields and forest and grassland borders. Fragrant sumac is thought to be shade intolerant or to have a low shade tolerance. Although it does occur in many different forested communities, the specific sites are often along edges of openings or in stands where canopy closure has not yet occurred. It may be considered more of a late-successional species in the shrub-dominated communities in limestone and dolomite glades.
References:	Baskin, Carol C.; Baskin, Jerry M. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of container Rhus aromatica Ait. plants; University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. In: Native Plant Network. URL: http://www.nativeplantnetwork.org (accessed 11 March 2014). Moscow (ID): University of Idaho, College of Natural Resources, Forest Research Nursery. Taylor, Jane E. 2004. Rhus aromatica. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: www.fs.fed.us/database/feis []. USDA, NRCS. 2014. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 11 March 2014). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

Citation:

Vandevender, John. 2014. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Rhus aromatica Aiton plants 1+0 container; USDA NRCS - Appalachian Plant Materials Center Alderson, West Virginia. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/02/24). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.