firsts: sumac…you sucker
Looking pretty good here, where it has, at long last, taken on some fall color. Still, it totally fails to live up to my expectations, and stands as an example of what can happen when one fails to research with Latin names in hand. A sumac in our back yard was a fond childhood memory. It put on a spectacular show each fall, and the fuzzy, antlerish branches were endearing. I found this one at Recycled Gardens for $4 with no ID other than Rhus. As far as I can tell, it must be Rhus trilobata, or ‘Skunkbush’. In other words, it displays all of the drawbacks (suckering, smelly, no fuzz) and little of the charm I sought. Lesson learned? I hope so.
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Hi Ricki~~ I would have bought it. Except for the smelly part. Maybe it keeps the deer away? I have to say the leaf coloring is nice. Maybe not as dramatic as its cousins. YET. One must remain optimistic. If you decide you don’t want it you could always dig it up and donate it to Recycled Gardens and give someone else a stab at it.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Bummer! At least the price was good…maybe time to recycle it again.
October 24th, 2009 at 1:30 am
Grace & Loree: So far, I have been transplanting the suckers into the front hedgerow where anything, pretty much, goes.
October 24th, 2009 at 2:09 am
oh my gosh. you have me in stitches tonight. Just read about the “potty chair” on Grace Peterson’s blog.
Poor thing. A stinky, suckery, non-fuzzing shrub. The colors are really nice though - and it definitely adds a sparkle to the garden!
October 25th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Wendy: Always glad when I can provide a laugh or two. Where would we be without that?