This is a blog post on growing and harvesting Staghorn Sumac. Staghorn Sumac is the spice plant the same Sumac. I am just growing this spice tree for its leaves as it is full of tannin. Which simply means good for fabric printing. The design of leaves makes a good imprint on the fabric as well. Here is one of my old blog posts on how fabric prints using Logwood.
There are a few different types of Staghorn Sumac if growing for spices do be careful of which one to buy.
Growing and harvesting Staghorn Sumac
While it is possible to grow from seed it takes longer for the tree to mature. It is much easier to buy young plants or using offshoots from the matured trees. Then just let it grow in the sunniest spot in the garden. It thrives in well-drained manure soil. Young staghorn sumac will drop most of its leaves come winter time. It will grow back again cone springtime with more matured and strong leaves.
It is relatively easy to grow plants with not many issues in terms of pests and diseases. After a year of growing from a young plant, there is no sign of sumac or seeds yet. I got the young plant online from eBay. It takes time to grow this plant given that the plant normally thrives in a Mediterranean climate. Whereas I am growing it in the UK. There are nice big leaves which I can harvest for fabric printing which I am happy about. This after less than a year of growing a young tree at the end of the summer season.
Thank you for reading and dropping by. Do have a look at my other tips on how to grow dye plants. Here is how to grow and harvest madder, woad and pesticaria tinctoria (Japanese indigo).
