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April 13, 2008 · Leave a Comment

My Love-Hate Relationship with Sumac

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For the last week or so, in between sleet storms, I’ve been watching robins pecking at the fruit on the three big sumacs at the edge of our property. (The robin is on the third sumac fruit from the left.) That’s what I love about sumac. It fits with our property and the environment around us. It supplies structure in the garden, with it’s big arching branches. It has interestingly shaped foliage, fuzzy branches in the spring, red leaves in the fall, and huge, rust-colored fruits that feed birds and supply winter interest.

sumac in garden bed

Staghorn sumac (back, right) can get large and it suckers, but it attracts wildlife to the garden.

Its adaptability is also why I hate sumac. It sends up shoots relentlessly–and once they get established, it takes more than a tug to pull them out. Today, I spent about half an hour cutting the shoots, some of which had multiple branches, trying to get ahead of the sumac for this year. I’ll be doing it again in June no doubt, and some time later in the summer as well. The sumac in my yard is a regular staghorn sumac, which is common in Minnesota.

There’s a newer variety out, introduced by Bailey Nurseries of Newport, Minn., in 2004, called Tiger Eyes. Tiger Eyes grows more slowly than the regular staghorn and has a more finely cut foliage that’s yellow with red streaks when it first emerges and turns a bright orange in the fall. If you like the look of sumac, but don’t enjoy pulling suckers, it might be a good choice.

Update from 2018: Tiger Eyes is now a ubiquitous sumac. It’s pretty and I’ve used it in both my Northfield and St. Paul gardens. Sadly, it never attracted wildlife in the same way the species plant did. It also did not sucker as much. If I had a bigger property than I do now, I’d probably plant the big one.

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Author, editor, blogger. Plants, how-tos, books, recipes, and Lola, the dog. #coldclimategarden
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Instagram post 2198851247623355458_1447832097 Let the holiday baking begin with Emily Dickinnson’s Black Cake, a delicious compromise between fruit cake and gingerbread. I use candied ginger and dates instead of currants.  Enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee on a cold day. #Recipe below:

2 cups sugar
1/2 lb butter
1/4 cup molasses
5 eggs 
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cloves 
1 tsp mace
1 tsp cinnamon 
1/2 tsp nutmeg 
1/4 cup or more brandy
1.5 lbs total dried fruit (I use citron, raisins, dates, candied ginger)
 Cream butter and sugar until light, add eggs one at a time and molasses. Beat well. Sift spices and dry ingredients together. Adds dry ingredients to butter mixture alternating with brandy. Add more brandy if needed. Fold in dry fruit and pour into two regular sized loaf pans (or about 6 small ones). Heat oven to 225 and place a large pan of hot water on bottom shelf. Bake at 225 F (yes, 225) for 2.5 hours. After 2.5 hours, remove water pans, increase heat to 300 and bake another 30 to 40 minutes. It should be firm and a little crispy on the edges. Let cool. Slice and enjoy! 
#ambaking #emilydickinson #blackcake #oldrecipe #literarycooks #EmilyDickinsoncooks #notfruitcake
Instagram post 2197447242024110013_1447832097 Look what blew out of the defroster in my car: Japanese beetle corpse. Those guys show up in the strangest places! .
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#minnesota #mngardener #japanesebeetle #snowday #minnesotaweather #deadbug
Instagram post 2196701309921404156_1447832097 The annual gIfts for gardeners post is on the blog, and one of my favorite new-to-me but ancient-to-the-world garden tools is an olla. I used one in a tomato container this past summer and had the healthiest tomatoes ever. Thanks to @jenniferrensenbrink for telling me about ollas. Of course, I think a membership in @mnhort is a great gift for the gardener who wants ideas rather than things. Link to blog post with full list in bio.
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#giftsforgardeners #gardengifts #containertomatoes #olla #waterwisegardening #supportmnhort #mynortherngarden #gardenblogger
Instagram post 2195418924718369831_1447832097 Trimming the sideboard with holiday fun, including this homey sign from @wonderandtwine and my thrifted snowman cookie jar. It’s beginning to look a lot like . . . .
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#mnmakers #christmastreedecor #cookiejar #holidaydecor
Instagram post 2194708592047924174_1447832097 Holiday decor requires some houseplants to vacate the living room and hang out on top of the dog kennel for a few weeks. Nice sun in this spot and a seasonal runner made by my sister. Ho-ho-ho. .
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#mynortherngarden #houseplants #holidaydecor #makingroomforchristmas #makingroomforchristmastree
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Instagram post 2190808837592766596_1447832097 This book from the amazing @homesteadbrooklyn and two others reviewed on the blog today. Link in bio. All address our divorce from nature and how/why to reconnect. Good reading for winter. .
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#howtocatchamole #howtocatchamoleandfindyourselfinnature @greystonebooks #markhamer #moles #houseplants #millenialsloveplants #gardenreading #gardenbooks #nature #theartistsgarden #gardensinspireart #artistsandtheirgardens #gardenblogger #reviewonblog #mynortherngarden
Instagram post 2186530642328682344_1447832097 Even in a snow hat, the gray-haired clematis looks good. .
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#alphinabluedancer #bluedancerclematis clematis #donahuesclematis #winterinterest #mynortherngarden #northerngardener #minnesnowta #thanksgivingsnow
Instagram post 2186443825478771999_1447832097 After needing to be carried outside to do her business, Lola settles in for the snow day. .
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Instagram post 2183797691195279982_1447832097 Thank you, @mnhort and @fleur_de_louise_flower_studio for this stunning door swag. Love the wheat and ribbon!! .
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#mnhort #holidaydecor #doorswag #doordecor #itsbeginningtolookalotlikechristmas  #mnmaker
Instagram post 2183063749567501424_1447832097 Box of books✅
Author poster✅
Homemade butter caramels to lure shoppers ✅✅
I’m ready for tomorrow’s @mnhort Holiday Open House. If you are near Rosedale Center, the office is just west at 1935 County Rd B2. Vendors, a chance to make a fun door swag and  a once a year deal on gift memberships in MSHS. I’d love to see you there.
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Instagram post 2179533207471514301_1447832097 Thanksgiving centerpiece—done! Thanks to @fleur_de_louise_flower_studio and @mnhort class at @badweatherbrew  tonight. Great instruction and idea. .
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