Evergreen Sumac
Rhus virensEvergreen Sumac is a small tree native to the Texas Hill Country that grows 8–10 ft tall and 6–8 ft wide. It wants full sun or part shade and low water, and handles caliche and clay soil. Blooms white and yellow in Jul–Aug. Evergreen — it holds its leaves through winter. Deer rarely browse it. Good for birds and butterflies.
Will it grow in your yard?
Enter your ZIP. The finder checks Evergreen Sumac against your microclimate, then ranks it against your sun, your watering and deer pressure.
From our guide
Village of the HillsDense evergreen shrub with glossy compound leaves that take on a burgundy tinge in cold weather. Fast to fill in.
Why it works here
The best native evergreen screen for dry, rocky ground. Faster than mountain laurel and less thirsty than most hedge plants.
Watch out
Needs good drainage. Will decline in heavy clay that holds water.
The facts
6 sources- Type
- Small tree
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade (3+ hrs)
- Water
- Low
- Height
- 8–10 ft
- Spread
- 6–8 ft
- Bloom
- Jul–Aug · white, yellow
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Soil
- Takes caliche and clay · recorded on dry, limestone, rocky, well drained
- Deer
- High — deer rarely browse it. Aromatic resinous foliage
- Wildlife
- Supports birds and butterflies
Where it grows
Recorded in these EPA Level IV ecoregions in the Austin and Hill Country launch area:
3,224 occurrence records in Central Texas (GBIF).
Can you buy it?
In the Village of the Hills guide, but not on the grower stock lists we read yet. Ask a native-plant nursery.
also grows from seed It starts readily from seed, so a packet from a native-seed supplier, or seed collected with permission, is often the easiest way to get a plant no nursery pots.