New Leaves !

It's officially spring. Hurrah! A fine yellow dust imperceptibly floats through the air. Catkins accumulate in thick mounds. Bees bustle about in plum trees and redbuds. All the while Ivan Fyodorovich's sticky green leaves unfold.

The tips of the Hercules-clubs (Aralia spinosa) have started to turn green. This leaf bud was photographed on March 12, 2020.

Fuzzy new leaves of the smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) have emerged. 
Pictured March 12, 2020

Tiny, but quickly developing, heart-shaped leaves can be found among pink redbud flowers. 
Pictured March 12, 2020

Tree of the Week: Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)

You are hereby cordially invited to an informal, but important, ceremony: the induction of two volunteers to the arboretum catalogue. Join us, won't you?

These smooth sumacs (Rhus glabra) are growing near the long-established clump of sumac on the slope near Mickle Hall. Based on their vigorous growth and the locations of the young trees, we presume that they are shoots from the root system of the established plants. During the past two months, several sumac shoots have popped up in this area. The stunning fall foliage of this species makes it a desirable plant, so these specimens have been encouraged. Out of the half-dozen independent volunteers, the two individuals pictured below were selected primarily for their location: they are far enough away from the other trees to prevent over-crowding.

This hill slopes down from Mickle Hall. Hunter's Tree (red maple) and memorial bench are pictured center. The modest thicket of smooth sumacs is pictured behind and to the left of the bench. One smooth sumac volunteer is pictured on the far left of the frame, and the other volunteer is pictured on the far right. In a couple of years, this spot in the arboretum should give us an impressive show of red fall foliage.

This grouping of smooth sumacs was discussed last fall on the blog. Check out the post here.

There are more than 10 smooth sumac shoots in this clump. Most of the shoots are spindly and leaning, perhaps due to over-crowding and competition.

This volunteer was staked two months ago. It has survived the mowers, trimmers and dry summer weather.

The compound leaves are numerous.

The central trunk of this small, new tree is already more than a foot tall.

Our second volunteer is about a month old. It was staked two weeks ago. In years to come, we expect this little tree to help shade the sidewalk that runs down from Mickle Hall.

The little tree measures about a foot tall.

Springtime Flowers

Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) flowers are tiny and not showy, but the large pancile is conspicuous.

Little green-white flowers are densely clustered together.

Tree of the Week: Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)

We first noted the fall foliage of the smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) back in September, in an 'Autumn Update'. The transformation is now complete: all the leaves have turned red, of varying shades. 

The smooth sumac entered the arboretum collection in October 1996 when Ed Leuck collected several specimens from the wilds of Caddo Parish. These were nurtured in pots until 1998 when they were planted in the ground on one of the arboretum's many clay slopes. By the year 2000, the sumacs in this initial planting had sent out their roots and established a second patch. The smooth sumacs you'll see today in the arboretum (and in the picture below) are from the second patch; the original plantings were later removed.

Smooth sumacs tend to develop as bushes rather than trees. In this grouping, which has been growing since 2000, there is one small tree and approximately 10 younger, smaller shoots, forming a thicket.

The trunk of the small tree can be identified in this photo. It appears to be leaning to the left.

Another view shows that the tree is leaning down-slope and seems to be partially propped-up by a rock.

In the fall, smooth sumac leaves are stunning shades of red.

The compound leaves are very long. This one measures more than 18 inches.

The underside is a pale pink.

The long-pointed red leaflets have toothed margins. In this photo we can see that the petioles are red, too.

This leaflet measures to 4 inches.

This is the trunk of the small tree, approximately 17 years of age. The bark is dark gray and lightly textured.

You can see more pictures of the arboretum's smooth sumacs here.

For more information about this species consult the following:
Texas Native Plants Database (Texas A&M University)
United States Department of Agriculture
NC State University 

Autumn Update

The summer heat and mosquitoes are lingering into this first week of autumn, and it has us seeing red....

Cornus florida seeds are still hidden by its leaves.

Beautiful colors of the Cornus florida leaves

Red leaves of Rhus glabra

Orange-red seeds of Euonymus americanus

Red, red, and more red: Magnolia grandiflora seeds

Non-native red spider lilies (Lycoris radiata) have found their way into the arboretum.

The red maples (Acer rubrum ) have dropped a few leaves.

Aesculus pavia seed partially concealed by husk

Aesculus pavia seed removed from husk

Size comparison of seeds, pictured from left to right: Cornus florida, Aesculus pavia, Magnolia grandiflora, and Liquidambar styraciflua (tree of the week!)

Rhus glabra