I was excited to learn that our Chinese Pistache tree is related to the Staghorn sumac tree, giving us a tree to observe and learn about as part of the Sumac Nature Study from last week.
This is a gorgeous tree in the autumn with its blazing red-orange leaves and bright red pea-sized fruits. We learned that only the female trees have fruit. Many of the resources we read about this tree said that it is not attractive to wildlife but we have found that we have birds visiting from autumn and on through winter that come and eat the fruit of this tree. Even in the winter when the limbs are bare and only the fruits are left, we see robins, starlings, and cedar waxwings visiting and feasting.
This is not a native tree to California but is a tree from China. We see them growing all over our part of California so they are a popular nursery tree that is commonly used for its autumn color. The red fruit is pretty this time of year and any left over the winter will turn a dark blue in color.
In comparing our Chinese pistache to the staghorn sumac, I see a similarity in the leaves and arrangement of leaves. Also, the color of the leaves is very similar.
We are always learning about the creation around us and this study helped us to take a deeper look at a tree we enjoy right in our own yard!
I have to thank you for putting us on the sumac trail. Home school has been fuller than normal and this topic was perfect! India has it’s own Sumac circle and we are enjoying being Sumac detectives!
I would love to see your sumacs and hear how it goes!
Yes,, will be glad to share! Hope to get to post all about it one of these days!