Poison sumac

[Ritten]

Hoping that there's a few people on here who are better at identifying plants than I am, I'll post a picture of this here. It's growing on our property, is now about 10' tall, and round up hasn't come close to killing it. It's growing right next to a burn pile which I don't want to light if it is sumac due to the vapors (been there, SCREW that!). The leaf structure has 7 or 9 leaves to a branch with some ending with these berries. Any ideas?

 

[dmiculek]

That looks like elder berry

 

[Emperor]

Sumac and Elderberry are very similar looking plants. Those in you picture are in bloom, and if they are Elderberry, the berrys should turn dark red or bluish black. Also consider, Poison Sumac is not very common here.

 

[Leonidas]

That looks like elder berry

+1

Seem to remember from Boy Scouts that poison sumac berries are white.

Edit: Scratch that; berries are gray.

 

[The_Shadow]

Yes looks like elder berry, If I recall Sumac has sets of 9 leaves (maybe different in other locations) in groupings where Poison Ivy and Oak have leaves in groups of three, berries white poison in site!

 

[themcfarland]

2-4 D mixed with roundup.. will kill anything..

 

[3fifty7]

2-4 D mixed with roundup.. will kill anything..

And if your brave enough very lightly hit it with a weed eater a day or two before you spray.


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[Barry J]

Drill a few shallow holes angling down in the tree at its widest part. Pour in some 2-4D, full strength. I have killed oak trees with this method.

 

[Ritten]

Killing it isn't an issue. I have a 30hp tractor and a front end loader that will shear it at ground level if need be. I would just like to know what I'm dealing with though. I'll probably keep an eye on it for now and see if the berries start to darken. I'm sure I'll have more of these pop up either way.

 

[toddrod]

Elderberry all the way. Make wine from those berries when ripe

 

[Bkjsdc09]

Elderberry, as others have said, poison sumac is rare around here. Most sumac you'll see around here is smooth sumac.


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[Buck8Point]

Notice those are plants with a stalk and not a vine.
Poison Ivy, Sumac, Oak are all a vine.
That is definitely Elderberry. Wont bother you at all.

 

[jguilletjr]

That looks like elder berry

Check out the link below Might be of help. I don't think what you have is poison sumac. The stalk or trunk of the plant looks wrong. Sumac has dark spots on a tan trunk. White flowers or White Berries

http://landscaping.about.com/od/weedsdiseases/ig/Poison-Sumac-Pictures/

 

[highstandard40]

Notice those are plants with a stalk and not a vine.
Poison Ivy, Sumac, Oak are all a vine.
That is definitely Elderberry. Wont bother you at all.

Poison sumac is not a vine, it is a woody shrub or small tree and is very rare here.

 

[spec50trout]

Ritten, I agree your pic is elderberry...insert Monty Python here. The worst you will get from them is stained clothes. The berries are said to be edible, but I anin't eatin' 'em.

I'll have to disagree with some. Poison Sumac is very common around here. Not just the woods, but in residential yards as well. The two look similar in the formation of the plant. Poison Sumac having shorter, narrower 7-9 leaves and white berries.

When in doubt, treat it like it's loaded and don't f' with it. Better safe than sorry. Inhaling the fumes I've only heard stories of and never want to experience.

For those of you who don't believe we have an abundance of Poison Sumac here in the south, please be careful when tromping about. It has the highest urisol content of all the poison plants and will eat yo' ass up!

 

[Ritten]

Inhaling the fumes I've only heard stories of and never want to experience.

I had that happen to me after an end-of-school-year bon fire when I was 14. The rash covered my entire body and I had a respiratory infection reminiscent to the flu for days.

 

[spec50trout]

I had that happen to me after an end-of-school-year bon fire when I was 14. The rash covered my entire body and I had a respiratory infection reminiscent to the flu for days.

Did you have, or is there a treatment for it?

 

[Ritten]

Did you have, or is there a treatment for it?

All I remember was calamine lotion, a steroid injection, and the doctor said I couldn't take a shower until it was gone. Pretty much just symptomatic treatments.

 

[spec50trout]

All I remember was calamine lotion, a steroid injection, and the doctor said I couldn't take a shower until it was gone. Pretty much just symptomatic treatments.

Thanks. Did you ever get any grass to grow around your new shop and home, if I remember correctly? Sorry off topic just curious how it worked out for you. I'm a lawn and landscape nerd!

 

[Ritten]

Thanks. Did you ever get any grass to grow around your new shop and home, if I remember correctly? Sorry off topic just curious how it worked out for you. I'm a lawn and landscape nerd!

Yea.....weeds. 4' tall and growing. Apparently I'm pretty good at growing water too! If we get much more rain I'll have to register my new house as a boat. Seriously though, we probably won't be looking to prep the yard for grass until next spring.