New and Unread Tree-Mails
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Philadelphia   Philly Jun 15, 2017 6:12 PM CST |
My neighbor claimed the plant in the attached image is poison sumac. I attempted to look it up online, but would like the opinion of others. Is the plant in this image poison sumac, some other poisonous plant, or nothing to worry about?   |
Name: Lin Florida Zone 9b, 10a              plantladylin Jun 15, 2017 6:22 PM CST |
| It does look like a Rhus species (Sumac) which have toxic qualities. A few that are found in Pennsylvania: Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina) Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) ~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot! ~ |
Name: Porkpal Richmond, TX        porkpal Jun 15, 2017 6:48 PM CST |
| Looks as if it could be potentially quite pretty. Porkpal |
Name: Lin Florida Zone 9b, 10a plantladylin Jun 15, 2017 7:35 PM CST |
| I think Rhus is quite pretty and shouldn't be a problem as long as you don't allow children or pets to taste it. We have a nice Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina) growing in our yard. ~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot! ~ |
Name: Bob Vernon N.J. (Zone 6a)           NJBob Jun 15, 2017 7:43 PM CST |
| Looks more like Staghorn to me. Poison sumac usually grows in very wet locations like wetlands or swamps. If it develops berries Staghorn are red, Poison are white to cream colored. Another way to tell is Poison have smooth to wavy edge of leaves where Staghorn has a toothed jagged edge to the leaves. |
Name: Paul Utah (Zone 5b) Grandchildren are my greatest joy.           Paul2032 Jun 15, 2017 7:49 PM CST |
| Looks like Ailanthus to me. Also known as Tree of Heaven. Paul Smith Pleasant Grove, Utah |
Name: Lin Florida Zone 9b, 10a plantladylin Jun 15, 2017 7:55 PM CST |
| I didn't even think of Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) which is also a possibility and invasive in Pa. as it is in many areas: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs... ~ Playing in the dirt is my therapy ... and I'm in therapy a lot! ~ |
Name: Daisy I Reno, Nv (Zone 6b) Not all who wander are lost   DaisyI Jun 15, 2017 8:12 PM CST |
| I thought of Ailanthus too. The leaflets on Ailanthus have an extra little tooth at the stem end that this tree doesn't seem to have or at least I can't see that it does. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming...."WOW What a Ride!!" -Mark Frost Webmaster: osnnv.org |
Name: Sue Ontario, Canada (Zone 4a)       sooby Jun 16, 2017 10:08 AM CST |
 Philly. Ailanthus should have two glands at the base of the leaflets, can you check for that? As in these pictures:https://www.google.ca/search?q... |
Name: Jude Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Zone 6a)      obliqua Jun 16, 2017 10:33 AM CST |
Looks like ailanthus altisima, (tree of heaven) which is very common in Pennsylvania. It is in bloom in Pittsburgh now, the odor is pungent. This plant is not poisonous but it has acquired the harsh nicknames of "ghetto palm", "stink tree", and "tree of Hell". If you do not want a lot of grief, remove this tree now, it grows to 50 feet and the wood is weak and usually infested with insects, that help to weaken it. It produces loads of suckers and seeds and seem to seed anywhere they land. I have seen them growing out of chimneys and rain gutters. |
Philadelphia Philly Jun 20, 2017 7:50 AM CST |
| Thanks for the responses everyone. I can take some more detailed photos when I am home from work. Last time I looked there were no type of berries present, but I will check for that, the glands, and the edges of the leaves. Cheers |
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