Laurel Sumac is an evergreen shrub with shiny, true green leaves highlighted with red. Some leaves are entirely red. The foliage has a citrusy fragrance. The white flowers smell like apples. After blooming season, the plant produces masses of green berries that turn red. It provides year-round color and interest for your drought-tolerant garden.
Name and History
Laurel Sumac is actually a member of the Cashew family. The name comes from the resemblance of the leaves to the leaves of Bay Laurel.
The Chumash tribe had several uses for this plant. They ate the berries when other food was scarce. We strongly recommend against eating any Sumac berries because some varieties are toxic. They made the berries into a tea to treat mouth sores. When dried and prepared, the leaves have antiseptic properties. The Chumash used the leaves to treat rashes caused by other plants. This is a native California plant with a rich history.
Growing Conditions
If an area gets too cold for oranges to grow, it’s too cold for Laurel Sumac. In the wild, this shrub grows along the southern coast and is an integral element of the chaparral. When planted in the proper environment, it’s one of our heartiest native plants. It’s one of the first shrubs to grow back after a fire.
Like most drought-resistant shrubs, this one grows best in sandy or rocky soil with good drainage. It requires almost no summer water. Plant it in full sun.
Flowering Season
In appropriate conditions, this shrub flowers from January through June. The berries appear in late summer and are ripe by autumn. Berries not eaten by wildlife turn black in winter and drop off the plant.
Wildlife
Laurel Sumac is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. Bees and butterflies feed on the flowers. Birds love the red berries. It’s a large shrub, growing from 10 to 15 feet tall in the wild. Because it’s an evergreen with heavy foliage, it provides excellent winter shelter for birds and small wildlife.
Companion Plants
This is a parasitic plant. It needs to grow close to California Sagebrush, other varieties of Sage or Ceanothus. Its roots draw essential nutrients from these companion plants.
Things to remember:
• Don’t plant in areas where temps fall below freezing
• It needs companion plants
• This large shrub is colorful all year
Laurel Sumac is popular because of its year-round color and benefits to wildlife. Contact us today to learn about using it in your garden next year.