can anyone identify this tree??

[Heather]

these trees grow in my parents back yard-mostly shady spots. My dad says they grow off of one root system. I may try to transplant one or two. My sister took one to dfw area 2 years ago and it is doing good with 2 babies that popped up this year. I hope I can get these pic. to post.....

[Heather]

more pictures

[MsFrizz]

That's a Sumac. There are different kinds, but it's probably a "smooth sumac". They grow so thickly that we always dig them up when they try to grow near the house. They pop up everywhere on my place.

[Heather]

thanks. do they pop up where there is full sun or just in shady areas? My dad says they are a nussance but they look so tropical, I wanted to give it a shot and try to grow some here--far away from the house...

[TexasT]

Sumac? Aren't they poisonous?

[Heather]

ok did a little research on sumac trees, yes some are toxic but they are mostly in swampy areas. I am still not 100% sure that these are sumac.(no offense Mrs Frizz-it gave me somewhere to start) the reason I say I am not sure is that all the info I have read says they berries or flowers and my mom has not ever seen this. maybe the trees are too young for berries? although they have been in this house for years, maybe all species don't have berries-still researching, maybe she just hasn't noticed. the leaves do turn red in fall like sumac trees

[Heather]

info i copied from about.com Poison sumac tree's mature berries are a greenish-white color and hang down. Non-poison sumac trees bear red berries in the autumn, and their berries grow upright. In addition, poison sumac plants grow in swamps, whereas non-poison sumac plants prefer precisely the opposite habitat -- soils that are well-drained. If you don't hang around swamps much, your chances of encountering poison sumac are pretty slim. It should be noted that by "non-poison" I allude to an absence of skin irritation from contact with the plant; but no part of the sumac plant should be ingested by anyone not thoroughly informed on the subject.

[MsFrizz]

I took the closeup pic and matched it with the one in my book, "Texas Trees".

There are 3 or 4 kinds of Sumac shown, the pic you have looks like the "smooth sumac". "thicket-forming shrub or small tree, growing to about 15 ft. tall. Grows at the edge of woods and roadsides throughout east Texas and into west Texas where we live. Has smooth, often bluish-white stems and leaf stalks. Bears sour fruits." Also says that Indians used the berries to make a drink, and sometimes used the leaves for tobacco.

Poison Sumac apparently doesn't grow here. Grows in East Texas swamps and bogs. Has white berries and very bright foliage in fall.

There is also a flameleaf Sumac that sounds a lot like what you have, but there is no picture. It says they are a lot like the smooth Sumac, but grow a little taller and have brighter fall color. It says they are more abundant here in the West, so if they came from around Eastland, this may be what you have.

On our place we also have a lot of hackberry trees. They look some like the Sumac, but if you really look you can see the difference. They always make lots of berries.


The ones we have that I am calling Sumac grow up under the edge of the larger trees. I don't recall seeing any growing in an open space.

[MsFrizz]

Heather, after reading that your trees never produce berries, I looked further and found what is called a Ghetto Palm. Says it was originally imported as an ornamental, has spread all over the US, and is abundant in 2/3 of Texas. Says it closely resembles a smooth Sumac. Very hardy. Fruit is two winged flattened seeds, twisted sort of like a propeller. Leaves have a very strong odor when crushed and young growth is deep reddish bronze.

Could this be it?

[june]

Is the same as what we used to call China Berry trees?

[Gearldean]

This is a picture of the leaves of a Chinaberry tree.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3/gearldean/chinabranch-bg.jpg

[cyotefishing]

Mimosa, looks like..

[BigGunz]

Figure it will be a Ghetto...here in Eastland.....lol

[sportacus]

If it has little fuzzy pink blooms in the spring and helicopter like seedlings its a Mimosa. They are hardy and beautiful and grow pretty fast.

[Docmom]

If it has little fuzzy pink blooms in the spring and helicopter like seedlings its a Mimosa. They are hardy and beautiful and grow pretty fast.
You are correct sport. I have a mimosa I planted in my back yard. I have not had many blooms this year. Even though I have watered.