Vinegar tree name. The vinegar tree (sumac) is a spectacular plant for your garden. Extraordinary tree features

There are up to 150 species in the genus, common in the subtropical and temperate zones.

Deciduous, low trees, bushy growing, with trifoliate and feathery simple leaves on winged or rounded petioles.

The flowers are inconspicuous, small, orange-yellow or greenish, collected in an apical, spike-shaped or paniculate inflorescence.

Some species, for example, Poisonous Sumac, although found in culture, cause burns from a light touch.

For landscaping our gardens, we use a species that has no toxic properties.

Types and varieties

Sumac fluffy, or deer-horned

Grows as a tree on rocky and dry soils of North America.

Can reach 10 m in height. Has an openwork decorative crown, fluffy, thick, brown shoots that resemble deer antlers.

The bark of the sumac fluffy on old shoots is brown, it is cracking. Large, odd-pinnate foliage with a velvety surface, pointed at the top and roughly toothed along the edge, green above, white-gray below.

In autumn, the foliage of sumach is deer-horned orange, and then burgundy. Small flowers collected in pyramidal panicles 20 cm in length.

Stamen flowers are yellow-green, pistillate flowers are red. During the ripening of the fruits, drupes, which are covered with bristly red pubescence, adorn the tree, sometimes until spring. Gives good root growth.

Lancet - with serrated, lanceolate leaves;

Dissected - with pinnately dissected leaves.

Location

Drought-resistant, photophilous, tolerates slight salinity.

The soil

Both dry and moderately moist soil are suitable.

Sumach breeding

Propagated by root suckers, seeds. Seedlings grow quickly, but the tree is short-lived, dying off at the 15th year of its life, renewing itself as root suckers.

Sumac use

Sumac is unusual and very decorative for our flora with its odd-pinnate, large foliage, making an indelible impression of a "palm-shaped" exotic.

Decorative forms of fluffy sumac are very beautiful. Sumy is worthy of wide application in landscaping, on rocky hills.

The autumn, scarlet color of the foliage, which adorns the bush for a long time, creates a beautiful spot in the garden landscape, enriching the autumn color, against the background of dark coniferous plants.

Dense, large panicles with bright fruits whole winter period decorate this graceful tree. In garden culture since 1600.

What is sumac or vinegar tree? This is the oldest plant in our nature. The elegant sprawling plant is quite impressive in size and has very beautiful feather-shaped leaves. Sumakh grows slowly, it can grow up to five meters in height. He is one of the best representatives of large woody plants. The tree pleases with its extraordinary beauty, starting from early spring, continues to delight in autumn - with spectacular leaf fall, and does not leave you indifferent to the winter period, when its extraordinary fruits flaunt on the branches. Besides decorative beauty, this tree also has practical properties such as dyeing and tanning.

Sumac tree is the most impressive tree of all woody ones. Its unusual leaves in the form of feathers with simple lobes, as if specially planted on rounded or winged cuttings, complement the inflorescences. The inflorescences, in turn, are collected from flowers, which, if examined one at a time, do not stand out for their beauty, but they are collected in a magnificent burgundy color, one might say glazed candles. Leaves and inflorescences, collected in candles, are combined into a very spectacular crown. Especially in autumn, this bright color of the crown cannot be confused with any other tree. And at other times of the year, the luxurious foliage and structure of the crown especially attracts attention.

Sumakh is a low deciduous tree, it seems to grow only in breadth, so from afar it seems just a big bush. Its spreading branches seem to be about to embrace everyone who came up to admire the beauty and grace of the plant.

Deer-horned sumac

Sumac fluffy or deer-horned - we are more and more called the vinegar tree. This most elegant, extravagant tree, in all seasons of the year sumac, looks amazing, and in the fall - probably even somewhat defiantly bright.

Fluffy sumac, at an age that has reached maturity, has a height of about four rarely to six meters. Although, like all plants can have and exceptions, for example, in the wild, a plant can reach a height of ten meters. It grows straight up to a young age, and upon reaching it, already in adulthood, it begins to grow in breadth. Its branches with a rich crown occupy a rather large diameter around them. With age, the tree becomes wider, spreading and more solid. Over time, the older the tree becomes, in terms of beauty it only wins ... The shoots of the plant are like deer antlers, unusually brown.

Leaves need to be said separately.

The structure of the leaves is unusual, each complex leaf consists of 11 to 31 small leaves, which feel like velvet to the touch.
On the edge of the leaves, there are large denticles, if you turn the leaf over, you can see its whitish color on the underside. The leaves are long, slightly pointed.
The leaves can be said to be huge, they form a crown and create the illusion of some kind of fabulous tree that came straight out of a fairy tale.

In autumn, the crown of sumach, dressing up its bright festive costume from a bloody orange crown, looks like a fire explosion.

When the foliage falls, its unremarkable flowers change into beautiful candle-shaped inflorescences. They seem to actually burn on the tree, like a garland on a Christmas tree. There is no explanation for such beauty, it is simply the most beautiful creation of nature of all trees in the entire universe.

The fluffy sumac begins to bloom in June or July, changing its flowers to beautiful inflorescences of huge candles. Flowers are collected in pyramids - inflorescences. The height of such an inflorescence reaches twenty centimeters. From the outside, if you look closely, they seem lacy, because the flowers are so close to each other. The flowers that make up the inflorescence pyramids are very tightly adjacent to each other, so it seems that the inflorescence pyramid is a single whole.

Sumac is a dioecious plant. Flowers are successfully located on its inflorescences with red pistils and light green flowers with stamens. Together they create a tandem of beautiful inflorescences. After flowering, fruits are tied, the so-called fruits - drupes, with a shape in the form of a sphere, they are all covered with red stamens. Sumach adorns these fruits with their presence until spring.

Deer-horned sumac has several decorative forms:

laciniata - differs from other forms of sumach only in the structure of the leaf, its leaf is thinner and the denticles are deeper at the edges, it also differs in the lanceolate lobes of the leaves.
Dissecta is the most attractive of all decorative forms of sumac. It is so charming thanks to its feathery leaves, they are colored with a bluish-silvery color, and the leaves themselves are more reminiscent of fern leaves in their structure. Compound fruits in this form of sumach differ from congeners, their brightness is comparable to that of any other inflorescences.

Some of the other types of sumac

In the wild, there are about two hundred varieties of sumac. But in the decorative gardening of sumacs, not all types can be used for their intended purpose, namely, not many sumakhs can show their beauty in gardens. For example, in small gardens, sumy cannot be present for the reason that it simply does not have enough space to spread out in breadth. Therefore, it can only plant medium and large gardens..

In nature, there are also poisonous species of sumach, even at the slightest touch to its leaf, you can seriously burn yourself, for example, such a representative of sumach as fluffy Toxicodendron. More often than others, two non-toxic types are used in decorative gardening: sumac aromatic and sumac naked.

At the same time, red flowers and whitish male flowers bloom, together they combine into spectacular inflorescences, similar to candles about twenty centimeters high. Re-flowering in autumn is possible. Its fruits are like a ball, slightly flattened and covered with small bristles, ripening occurs at the end of September, and can stay on the tree all winter.

Role in ornamental gardening

In any decorative design any garden, vinegar tree will always come in handy. Any part of the garden will be transformed with such a neighbor. As a rule, a magnificent, sprawling handsome man in the garden is always allocated a personal leading place.

A plant is planted in compositions, but a large single emphasis is placed on it. That is, the main role in the decorative composition always belongs to an imposing handsome fluffy. As a rule, small, low-growing shrubs are given secondary roles in such a decorative composition. Sumakh does not like tightness, it grows freely in breadth and does not need serious bulky neighbors at all. It is very good to use it in alpine slides, here it certainly gains a worthy position with its extraordinary beauty and not only, it is also suitable for strengthening slopes and soil.

The fluffy can very effectively emphasize the beauty of a large lawn, or, for example, decorate a simple flat area. In such areas, it may even resemble a distant relative of the palm tree, with its beautiful spreading unusually beautiful feather leaves. Graceful look only emphasized in the vicinity of conifers. In tandem with such neighbors, it seems that the sumac came to an ordinary forest from an unusually beautiful fairy tale. Sumac and conifers complement each other and are ideal for any decorative landscaping.

In general, as a rule, ornamental gardening assumes that the composition with the participation of a given plant already in itself implies the brightness of the colors. For instance, composition in one green color must be diluted with bright eccentric spots.

In whatever composition the sumy appears, it will no longer be a boring place, but a bright explosion of extraordinary beauty. It looks great in the winter garden too.

Growing

Sumac is unpretentious to growing conditions. It will grow well in poor, unsaturated soils, and thrive in the polluted atmosphere of cities. Photophilous - therefore he prefers large, free and open areas to the sun.

And yet, you need to pay attention to the composition of the soil when planting.... Despite the fact that this plant is picky, it also has its own preferences. They cannot imagine their existence without sandy, sandy - rocky, sandy - clayey soil.

It is also necessary to remember that, like any woody plants, sumach will put up with the soil - the salinity of which is insignificant, but groundwater and swampy soil are unacceptable for it, although they can withstand medium moist drained soil. The best option soil cannot be found - like loose and dry garden soil.

Vinegar tree care... There is no need to care for sumac, you just need to give it freedom. The whole care of him is to remove damaged and dry branches. The tree cannot be pruned, its beautiful spreading branches must be given freedom to grow, because part of the beauty of this tree consists in its branches, which grow in breadth. And with age, it becomes more and more beautiful precisely thanks to the growing branches. The only thing that needs to be removed is the extra areas of the root system.

The root system spreads very quickly and if it is not removed in time, its shoots will grow throughout the territory. The tree is almost not sick. He is not interested in insects and pests. This plant is not afraid of droughts, it is heat-resistant, it does not need watering, it does not need feeding. Under favorable conditions, it can please with repeated flowering.

Wintering

In winter, sumac needs shelter in winter frosts. The climate where it can freeze is the middle band. The shoots of this tree may have time to turn numb by about 2/3 of the plant, but despite this, it tends to quickly recover from winter. There are practically no traces of winter damage on the shoot.

Reproduction

Sumac reproduces vegetatively... Interestingly, its most important drawback is the most successful advantage during reproduction. The root system, which develops with such ease, contributes to obtaining more and more copies for reproduction. Shoots separated from the tree adapt very well to a new place. But getting a seedling with the help of seeds is a laborious and ineffective process.

Sumakh is a sprawling miracle, perhaps one of the most ancient plants on our planet. From a wide variety of species, this large, but very decorative tree, sumac fluffy occupies a separate place. The plant is able to decorate any site from the beginning of spring to theatrical and decorative leaf fall with the luxury of leaves, which is replaced by winter toy-beautiful fruits.

Sumach fluffy or deer-horned (in Latin Rhus typhina) is also called the vinegar tree, a genus of trees and shrubs, the sumach family.

In nature, there are approximately 250 species of sumach that grow in the northeast of North America and in the southeast of Canada. Sumac is widespread in Central Asia and southern Europe.

In nature, fluffy sumac can grow up to 8 -10 meters in height. IN middle lane In Russia, the height of the vinegar tree usually does not exceed 3 meters. Sumac grows in height only for the first few years, and then begins to grow only in width. Sometimes it grows so much that from a distance it can resemble a huge bush.

This tree is very decorative. He is rightfully recognized as one of the brightest and most elegant. The ceremonial, catchy color attracts the eyes of admiration.

The unusually beautiful feathery foliage and the bizarre pattern of the crown, stretching in breadth, does not leave anyone indifferent. And sumac does not lose its charm in winter.

This extraordinary beauty of the deer-horned sumach is created by its bizarre umbrella-shaped crown and densely spaced large feathery leaves. The foliage becomes pink-red with the onset of autumn.

Young shoots, inflorescence legs and leaf stalks, which are covered with thick, velvety-red down, also look wonderful. But sumac looks no less impressive with the onset of autumn days. Carmine fruit brushes become a real decoration, which bristle with bright red fluffy candles, similar to Christmas decoration.

Sumakh grows directly only for the first 3-4 years. Then it begins to slowly grow in width, becoming more and more spreading with age, with a luxurious, spreading tree crown.

Such a powerful, rapidly growing crown requires a significant amount of space for this plant. But the high decorativeness of the bizarre bending of the branches, which is especially beautiful in winter, deserves a separate place for the tree in the parterre.

The leaves of the deer-horned sumach are rather large, with a velvety surface. They have a pointed shape, with notches along the edges, in length from 6 to 11 centimeters. On the inside, the leaves are of a very original white color, and on the branches they are collected together from 9 to 31 leaves.

With the beginning of autumn, this fabulously beautiful crown seems to be engulfed in a crimson fire, and the tree itself in the garden looks, perhaps, even brighter than a maple because of its red foliage.

Reindeer sumac is a bisexual plant. On female trees, flowers are pistillate, reddish-brown. Male staminate flowers are more modest in color, they are yellow-green in color.

In autumn, dense panicles produce fruits - small red drupes.
The vinegar tree begins to bloom in mid-summer. Flowers are in the shape of a candle in the form of a cone. Their color is rich burgundy brown or light green. The flowers are quite large, up to 15 centimeters high and about 5 centimeters in diameter.

With the fall of the leaves, these flowers, which have been replaced by spectacular infructescences in the form of pyramids-panicles, decorate sumac like a Christmas tree garland. Birds do not peck on these fruits, and therefore, they will decorate the tree until spring.

With age, sumac grows more and more and becomes even more beautiful. Its branches are light brown in color, thick, in some ways they actually look like antlers.

Its other name, which was given to the deer-horned sumac, is the vinegar tree. This name is not accidental at all. Sumach leaves have a sour taste, due to which this plant is used in a number of countries as a seasoning for meat dishes instead of lemon or vinegar. The sour taste of the fruit of the vinegar tree is used to make various drinks.

In eastern countries, the plant is known primarily as a unique spice. The aroma of sumac is rather weak, but its value has a beautiful rich ruby \u200b\u200bcolor and a slight astringent effect with a subtle sourness. Due to these properties, it is used in hot countries as a preservative to increase the shelf life of products.

As a seasoning, sumac can not only give a dish of rice, vegetables or meat an appetizing ruby \u200b\u200bcolor, but also add a piquant pungency and sourness. This natural ingredient in the production of sausages, minced meat and other meat products is simply unmatched.

The medicinal properties of sumach are also known; it is used as an anti-inflammatory and antifungal agent. Sumac is a valuable source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C, has antioxidant and diuretic properties, and helps prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

In addition, silk dye is made from the roots and leaves of this plant, and wax is obtained from the fruits for making varnishes.

How to grow sumac

The vinegar tree is one of the most suitable for growing in poor soils, even in the conditions of polluted city streets. The plant loves light and prefers open, sunny places.

There is only one condition when choosing a place for planting deer-horned sumach. The tree feels good only on sandy, sandy-stony and sandy-clay soils.

The plant loves dry and rather loose soil, does not tolerate the close occurrence of groundwater or swampy places. However, moist but well-drained soils are quite suitable for growing sumac.

There is a very big plus when planting sumac: it can grow on slightly saline soils, where none of the classic woody ones can survive

Landing rules

Usually a young plant is planted, which has not reached the age of three. It is best to do this with the onset of spring, because this period is considered the most optimal for rooting the plant.

Before planting, the soil must be properly prepared. To do this, make a specially formulated mixture of leafy earth, coarse sand and compost. The proportions of the components are 1: 2: 1. The root collar of the plant must be buried no more than 5 centimeters into the ground.

If it is planned to grow several sumach trees on the site at once, then it is necessary to maintain a distance between them when planting at least 4 meters.

After planting, the tree must be watered abundantly for three days. In addition, you need to take care of mulching the trunk circle in advance, because the root system of the plant is located quite close to the surface, and therefore there is a risk of damaging the roots during loosening of the soil.

Sawdust or wood chips are used as mulch with a layer of about 5 centimeters.

Since the vinegar tree is a dioecious plant, it is necessary to plant both a female and a male tree.

Sumac fluffy, deer-horned, video:

Organization of watering

There are no special rules for caring for deer-horned sumac. Water the plant in moderation. Young seedlings need abundant watering only in very hot and dry weather.

It is characteristic of sumach that it is able to withstand short-term drought without additional moisture.

Top dressing

To increase flowering and, consequently, further fruiting of sumach, mineral fertilizing of the plant is needed. Such a procedure should be carried out no more often than once a year, because an excess amount of minerals can greatly harm the plant.

It is also very important to choose the right site when planting sumac. The tree will prefer acidic or even slightly salted soils. Often for this purpose, special fertilizers are applied. Although, by and large, of particular importance it doesn't matter for successful cultivation this amazing plant.

Other rules of care

One of the main requirements for growing sumac is good lighting. The tree loves sunny areas. In the absence of such an opportunity, if, nevertheless, the site turned out to be a little shaded, then this, too, will not become an obstacle to growing a beautiful and healthy plant.

Reindeer sumac is susceptible to attack by pests and various diseases as much as other trees in the garden. Therefore, if any symptoms of plant damage are detected, urgent measures must be taken to combat the disease.

A vinegar tree can only be transplanted at a young age and only when the need arises. In addition, you must take into account the time of year. The best transplanting season is spring. If you carry out such a procedure in the fall, then there is a risk of freezing young shoots.

If the plant suddenly froze, then there is some secret: the tree is able to recover from the buds located on the lower and middle branches.

For the winter, the plant's trunk circle is mulched with a large amount of sawdust and chips.

Crown pruning

Deer-horned sumach pruning is usually carried out for decorative purposes, forming a crown at its own discretion. This allows you to get all kinds of original compositions in the garden, there are no restrictions here.

Increasingly along park paths and on private garden plots you can see an exotic spreading tree, whose delicate branches are crowned with crimson cone-shaped inflorescences. Sumakh Deerhorn, better known as the vinegar tree, migrated to us from North America, and very quickly fell in love with local gardeners and designers. In the wild, these giants reach ten meters in height and represent a truly majestic sight. If you also decided to acquire such a tree, let's figure out how to properly plant this overseas guest in the open ground in our latitudes so that he will please with his unusual appearance for many years. What varieties are preferred for our climate zone? What is the care? What are the nuances to consider when growing?

Description of the variety and varieties of sumach

In our country, a tree rarely grows very tall, usually its height is limited to 3 meters. By the age of 10, the deer-horned sumac stops growing upward and begins to actively expand in breadth. The volume of the crown can reach a diameter of 6 - 8 m. To be sure of this, look at the photos of mature trees.

The branches of the deer-horned Sumach bizarrely bend and form funny openwork weaves, which are clearly visible in winter timewhen the plant shed its foliage. The shoots are covered with a short nap, which looks like deer antlers. It was this feature that gave rise to its name. However, old branches lose this decorative property and become smooth.

Designers love deerhorn sumac for its beautiful leaves.

Leaves are odd-pinnate, collected in 11-31 pieces. Each leaf can reach a length of 10 cm. Inflorescences are collected in panicles, during the flowering period they have a very nondescript appearance, but after the ripening of the fruits, the peak of their decorativeness comes. In autumn, the foliage turns crimson, and the inflorescences take on the appearance of beautiful cone-shaped candles that last all winter. The tree really becomes the pride and decoration of the garden.

In addition to deer-horned sumac, there are other varieties:

sumac naked. The differences are only in the appearance of the bark, there is no fleecy pubescence on it.
sumac fragrant has an incredible smell. A pleasant thick aroma, like a veil enveloping the landing site. It differs from the previous 2 species in the shape of the foliage.

All these varieties are not poisonous, have a high decorative value and can be successfully grown outdoors in private plots and in parks. Starting from the 3rd climatic zone. To choose for yourself the best option see photos of plants.

Planting, care and reproduction of a plant

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to grow deer-horned sumac from seeds, therefore this planting method has not become widespread. They use it only when there is no opportunity to acquire a young seedling. The seeds have a very low germination rate. And those of them that do germinate in half of the cases die in the first years of life, despite the most careful care. If, due to circumstances, you have decided on this method of reproduction, plant it with a margin. Excess seedlings can always be distributed to neighbors in their summer cottages.

Attention! Reindeer sumac seeds need mandatory stratification. Such a biological feature this tree. If the seed material is not kept for 3 - 4 months in the cold, seedlings can not wait.

Home seed stratification

What is stratification and why is it needed? In the seeds of deer-horned sumach, the embryo sleeps so soundly that it can only wake up a few years after maturation. You can artificially speed up the awakening process. To do this, you need to create conditions for the seeds under which their shell will soften, and the embryo will enter the awakening phase.

Deer-horned sumac seeds

Now stratification of seeds at home is not at all difficult. The required temperature is from +1 to +5 degrees Celsius, this is how much in household refrigerators... Besides temperature regime high humidity should be provided. It is also an easily accomplished item. Place each seed pot in plastic container with a hermetically sealed lid. You will get an impromptu camera with the necessary conditions.

Deer stachis seeds stratification:

Treat the seeds with fungicides to reduce the likelihood of decay.
Soil substrate made of compost, coarse sand and deciduous soil, roast in the oven or microwave ovento destroy the pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms present in it.
Fill a small pot with potting soil and sow the seeds. Water the soil.
Place the seed pot in a container or plastic bag with a lock and refrigerate for 3 to 4 months. In the spring you will have ready-made seed material for planting in open ground.

Attention! If you don't want to stratify, sow in the fall. In this case, nature itself will take care of the processing of the seed.

Reproduction by root suckers

The vinegar tree produces a huge number of root suckers. They are used as the main material for reproduction and cultivation. You can propagate a tree by this method not only in autumn, but also in spring. This requires:

carefully separate the seedling from the mother plant, being careful not to damage the root system;
dig a hole, the size of which will be 2 times the size of the root system;
place the plant in a hole, straighten the roots, cover with soil mixture;
make sure that the root collar is flush with the ground;
compact the soil and water it moderately.

Choosing a landing site. Fertilizers and plant feeding

Reindeer sumac is absolutely unpretentious to the composition of the soil. The tree grows equally well on rocky areas and on fertile soils. However, if the soil is too poor or contains a lot of stones, do not be lazy and make a substrate of compost, deciduous soil and coarse sand in equal proportions to fill the hole. Add a portion of complex mineral fertilizers. This will help the plant quickly take root and develop a strong root system.

Reindeer sumac takes root on any soil

During the life of the sumac, deer horned does not need the obligatory introduction of mineral and organic fertilizers, but, like all green spaces, is responsive to their introduction.

The tree tolerates dry periods with low rainfall very well, which means it does not need regular watering. Deer-horned sumac grows quickly, so immediately after planting, install a strong peg next to it and tie it so that the trunk is even.

In the early years, it is advisable to regularly prune and form several beautiful central branches so that the tree really becomes a decoration of the garden. In other years, sanitary pruning is sufficient.

The tree does not tolerate stagnation of melt and rainwater, so do not plant it in lowlands. It should be noted that a developed root system with a large number of offspring holds the soil well in ravines, ravines and on steep slopes.

Diseases, pests and combinations with other plants

Reindeer sumac is not exposed to diseases and pests. Therefore, caring for him is minimal and does not require much effort and time.

Deer-horned sumach flowering

The tree looks great in large areas with low lawns, as a tapeworm. In this case, nothing interferes with Sumakh, and over the years its crown grows to enormous sizes.

The planting of the deer-horned Sumakh along the alleys is interesting. In these options, the tree is formed with a high bole, and only then the branches are allowed to grow, which are intertwined at the top, and in summer period form a thick shadow. Very rarely planted under a tree ornamental plants, because you have to very often remove the root processes.

What does a vinegar tree look like? It's sprawling deciduous plant with an openwork crown of intertwined branches and huge feathery leaves, it surprises with its grandeur and originality. In summer, the tree is transformed due to the flowering of bright red inflorescences, reminiscent of chestnut "candles", in autumn the perennial "flashes" with fiery crimson shades, and in winter the tree pleases those around it with velvety carmine fruit, which persists until spring.

In addition to highly decorative qualities, the vinegar tree is an absolutely unpretentious and hardy crop that practically does not need maintenance.

Even novice amateur gardeners can grow an amazing tree on your site.

Vinegar tree, plant description

The Sumakh genus unites more than 200 species of shrubs and low-growing trees. This genus also includes a species called "Deer-horned Sumakh", better known as "Vinegar tree" or "Uksusnik".

Why is the vinegar tree so called? It turns out that this unusual name is due to the sour taste of the berries of the tree, which are not only unsuitable for human consumption, but are also considered poisonous. With all this, in some Asian countries they learned to make vinegar and spices from the fruits of the vinegar tree.

North America is considered the natural habitat of the decorative perennial. Currently, vinegar is widespread far beyond the borders of its historical homeland.
The sumac vinegar tree grows slowly, reaching a height of 3 to 10 meters. In horticultural culture, the tree usually does not grow more than 5-6 meters. Most often, an exotic perennial stops at around 3 meters. Simultaneously with the growth in length, sumac also spreads in breadth, forming a dense openwork crown. Moreover, with age, the vertical growth of the plant stops, which cannot be said about the expansion of the chic and spreading crown of the vinegar tree in breadth. Cases of branch growth up to 8 meters in diameter have been recorded. A similar feature of sumach is important to consider when choosing a place for planting a seedling.

Due to its crown shape, the vinegar tree is often compared to the "overseas" palm tree. But the leaves of the tree culture are more reminiscent of the domestic mountain ash.
Deer-horned sumac shoots resemble deer antlers in shape and configuration, which served as the basis for such an unusual botanical name for perennial. The tree looks especially bizarre in winter, when gracefully curved shoots completely discard their deciduous "decoration". Outwardly, light-colored branches look thickened and intricately intertwined.
One of the main advantages of a deciduous tree is considered to be elongated, not paired, complex leaves. Leaves are pinnate-lanceolate in shape, with a pointed end and pronounced denticles along the edges. Each compound leaf has about 30 leaves. Young leaf blades and shoots are covered with velvet hairs. Juicy green leaves of sumac in autumn acquire unusually bright crimson-red shades. During this period of the year, it is impossible not to notice the magnificent fire tree.

In addition to decoratively attractive foliage, vinegar has at least spectacular flowers... Small flowers of carmine shades are collected in dense, large and bright panicle inflorescences. The main axis of the inflorescence is densely covered with numerous hairs, creating the effect of a flowering velvet "lace". A separate inflorescence, similar to a candle of a blossoming chestnut, can be up to 20 cm long. Perennial flowering occurs in the summer: roughly, June, July.

The fruit is formed only in the female representatives of the vinegar tree. In this case, it is important to have both a female and a male form on the site. The fruit of the vinegar tree is drupe and also supports the overall highly decorative purpose of the unusual tree. The pyramidal panicles of red stems, located on woven bare branches, form an unusually attractive sight until spring.

Woody perennial culture every year only becomes more beautiful and more spectacular.

Acetic tree, application

Extraordinarily attractive appearance plants, combined with general endurance and unpretentiousness, determined its dominant value as a high decorative culturedecorating parks, squares or home areas. The once exotic culture, the vinegar tree, has long become familiar to many regions of our country. In decorative landscaping, both group and single plantings of a spectacular looking tree are practiced.

Spreading perennials are especially attractive as a single accent, attracting attention with an unusual crown shape and bright inflorescences. In the case of compositional plantings, vinegar is harmonious against the background of undersized plants, emphasizing the greatness of the exotic culture.

Deer-horned sumac has insignificant toxic properties. If the tree sap gets on the skin, a slight burning sensation may be felt. Contact of juice with mucous membranes of the body is fraught with more negative consequences for human health.
The ornamental crop, vinegar tree, contains dyes and tannins used in the respective industries.
The tenacious and strong roots of the tree allow it to be used as a plant that anchors ravines, talus or slopes.
The fruits of the vinegar tree are used in cooking: for the preparation of vinegar and the "Sumakh" seasoning, which replaces lemon in many dishes. Asian cooks widely use sour seasoning as a salad dressing, marinade for meat and fish.

The vinegar tree is also known in alternative medicine. Since ancient times, the Indians have used the plant as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Vinegar tree, decorative forms

The vinegar tree has become the foundational base crop for other forms of ornamental plant.

The lanceolate form of sumach is characterized by more refined lanceolate leaves with deep jagged edges.
The deer-horned sumach Dessect is distinguished by the silvery color of the pinnately dissected leaves, resembling the branches of a fern. Compound fruits are brightly colored, carmine - scarlet tones.
Deer-horned sumac Tiger Eyes has openwork, dissected leaves, similar to the branches of a fern. The undersized (up to 2 m) variety "Tiger Eye" grows slower than the main species and is less frost-resistant. Positive quality perennial is the almost complete absence of overgrowth formation.
The fragrant vinegar tree resembles tall shrub with slight foliage. The fragrant leaves are in the shape of a trefoil and, like the main species, are transformed in the autumn. The practically bare branches "bear" edible fruits, suitable even for making jam or wine.

Many gardeners are afraid to cultivate decorative sumy on their site, having heard about it poisonous properties... It is important to note that the species of deer-horned sumac (or fluffy, as it is also called) does not belong to the dangerous forms of sumac, isolated into a separate genus with the appropriate name "Toxicodendron".

Therefore, the vinegar tree can be safely used for landscaping garden and park areas or personal plots.

Features of growing vinegar

The origin of the vinegar tree predetermined its good adaptability even in difficult climatic conditions... So, an unpretentious tree can grow on stony, acidic, saline soils or in the mountains.

Vinegar easily tolerates prolonged drought, severe winters and urban gas pollution.

The only thing a plant needs most is light. Light-loving culture will become attractive and luxurious only in a well-lit or slightly shaded place.

Choosing a place to plant a vinegar tree

For all its low pretensions to the composition of the soil, the vinegar tree responds favorably to fertile, loose and well-drained soil.
The tree culture prefers not dense sandy, clay-sandy or stony-sandy soils.
As for humidity, deer-horned sumac prefers dry soils. Therefore, when choosing a place for planting an elegant "exotic", you should avoid wetlands, as well as places with a high groundwater table.
The undoubted advantage of a perennial is its resistance to saline soil, where other plants simply cannot grow.
Choosing a place for planting, you should "stay" on a well-lit, sunny, protected from drafts and winds, area.

Agrotechnics of planting vinegar

Plant seedlings with an open root system better in springto ensure their maximum survival rate and preparation for the upcoming wintering. An autumn planting of vinegar tree seedlings is also practiced, followed by the shelter of young trees for the winter period or temporary burying in a container.
Large grown specimens of a vinegar tree with a closed root system can be planted in any warm season. At the same time, it is important to preserve the surrounding roots, a clod of earth as much as possible.
The optimal age for planting a tree in open ground will be a 2-3 year old seedling.
Before planting, a soil mixture is prepared from one part of sod land, 2 parts of sand (coarse fraction) and one part of compost (humus). Such a light and loose soil will best ensure the development of the seedling in a new place.

Before planting the vinegar tree, a bucket of water is poured into the pit, which must be completely absorbed into the ground.
Having prepared the planting hole, you can expose the seedling, carefully straightening all its roots and filling it with soil mixture. Do not forget to periodically compact the soil during planting in order to avoid the formation of voids. The depth of the pit depends on the size of the earthen coma and the roots of the seedling. The average dimensions of the pit are about 50 x 50 cm.

When planting, the root collar is deepened into the ground by about 4-6 cm.
After landing young tree poured abundantly with water and mulch.
If you are planting multiple vinegar seedlings, it is important to consider the distance between the trees. Given the wide growth of the future crown of sumac, it is necessary to leave an interval between crops of at least 3-4 meters.
To admire the exotic beauty of vinegar fruits, you need to plant male and female forms of trees nearby.

Considering the fact that the vinegar tree, as it grows, will actively "give" root shoots, oppressing other, neighboring crops, when planting a seedling, it is recommended to install the so-called. "Limiters". These can be pieces of slate, metal sheets, boards, etc. To do this, the restraints are deeply dug into the ground around the planting pit, preventing further unwanted growth of overgrowth.
As a rule, seedlings planted in accordance with all the rules of agricultural technology quickly take root in a new place and begin to bloom as early as 4-5 years of age. A beautiful vinegar tree can grow in one place for more than 20 years.

Vinegar tree, plant care

The vinegar tree does not require special care or the use of any special agronomic skills. Moderate watering, weeding and mulching are perhaps all the necessary measures to promote the active growth and development of the vinegar tree.

A hardy, unassuming plant, it is also resistant to various kinds of diseases and pest attacks.

Watering and mulching the vinegar tree

Watering plays an important role at the stage of survival of vinegar seedlings. Therefore, after planting, the young tree is watered abundantly for the next 3 days.
As the drought-resistant tree grows, watering is carried out only during a particularly hot dry period.
Excessive watering or constant moisture of the plant has a detrimental effect on the development of woody. In addition, excess moisture can lead to the appearance of a fungal disease.
After watering, the trunk circle is mulched with peat or wood chips. The thickness of the mulching layer is about 5 cm.

Weeding and loosening the vinegar tree

When weeding the trunk circle, it is necessary to ensure that the roots of the vinegar tree are not damaged in the process.
The absence of mulch also provides for periodic loosening of the area around the tree.

Pruning vinegar

It should be noted separately that the vinegar tree does not need pruning shoots. Many amateur gardeners carry out formative pruning of the perennial crown, but, unfortunately, after such a procedure, sumac becomes less decoratively attractive. But copies untouched by cropping, on the contrary, look chic and impressive.
Thus, sumac needs only sanitary pruning, which boils down to the spring removal of dry or damaged branches.

Attention must also be paid to the removal of root shoots, which the vinegar tree actively releases far beyond the diameter of its near-stem circle. To avoid the appearance of unwanted growth will help the artificial restrictors of root growth laid in the soil (when planting a seedling). Otherwise, the uncontrolled spread of root suckers threatens the appearance in the near future of a real dense grove of vinegar trees.

Shelter for the winter vinegar tree

The frost-resistant vinegar tree does not need special shelter for the winter. Adult plant easily tolerates negative temperatures up to 30 0 С.
Only young seedlings, vulnerable during severe cold weather, should be sheltered for the winter. To prevent freezing, the vinegar is covered with spruce branches or wrapped in spunbond.
The deep snow cover that persists around the tree throughout the winter will also prevent the vinegar from freezing.
In the case of freezing of the upper parts of the shoots, in the spring sumac quickly and painlessly recovers due to the formation of young shoots.

Fertilizing and fertilizing the vinegar tree

Ideally, you need to feed the tree with a complex of mineral fertilizers once a year.
If the soil where the perennial grows is fertile enough, it is recommended to fertilize once every 2 years.
You should not get carried away with nitrogen-containing fertilizers, which slow down the development of the vinegar tree.

Reproduction of the vinegar tree

The vinegar tree reproduces generatively (by seeds) and vegetatively (by plant parts).

The seed propagation method of vinegar is used extremely rarely - only for the formation of new varieties or species. This is due to the low germination rate and the long process of germination of seedlings. The seeds retain their germination properties for no more than 4 years. In addition, sumach seeds are covered with a hard shell, which can be dissolved using, for example, concentrated sulfuric acid. Naturally, not everyone has such an unsafe chemical reagent in stock. Even if it is possible to germinate the seeds, the seedlings turn out to be "frail" and practically not viable.

Reproduction by green cuttings also has an insignificant share of success, therefore, in practice, it is practically not used.
The most successful and affordable is the reproduction of perennials due to root shoots, which actively appear throughout the vegetative period of the plant. Best time for the separation of daughter offspring - spring or autumn. First, the tallest and most developed seedling is chosen, after which it is dug out with a shovel, separating it from the roots of the parent tree. The deeper you dig the seedling, the more viable it will be. The resulting seedlings quickly and easily take root in a new place. If the seedling is not planted immediately, but, for example, is transported to a new place, you need to wrap the root part of the offspring in a damp cloth with sawdust. Thanks to this, the vinegar tree seedling will not dry out and can withstand in this state for about a week.

When growing a unique tree, it is important to use domestic seedlings adapted to local environmental conditions. Imported vinegar seedlings generally do not recover from a harsh and cold winter.

Thus, the vinegar tree is perfect option for landscaping large areas with minimal maintenance effort. Unpretentious, drought-resistant and frost-resistant tree has high decorative qualities and is widely used in landscape design... The only drawback of the exotic perennial is the aggressive formation of root shoots. To avoid such a nuisance, it is necessary to lay root growth restraints when planting a seedling. Such a technique will save you from unnecessary trouble and will allow you to enjoy the beauty of an unusual plant for a long time.