Vinegar tree: plants, care & choice of varieties

The vinegar tree is particularly noticeable late in the year with its splendid autumn colors. With us you can find out everything about this special tree and how to cultivate it.

The velvety soft vinegar tree grows as a pioneer plant on roadsides and embankments, but can also be planted well in the garden. In doing so, you should definitely use a root barrier, as the vinegar tree reproduces strongly via root runners under certain conditions. This article gives you an overview of different vinegar tree varieties, tips on cultivating small trees in the garden and buckets, as well as using the fruits of the vinegar tree.

Vinegar tree: origin and characteristics

The vinegar tree (Rhus), also called deer piston umach, belongs to the sumac family (Anacardiaceae). The name Rhus goes back to the Greek word “rhein”, which means “to flow” and probably refers to the milky sap that escapes vigorously when injured. There are around 200 species worldwide, distributed in the tropics, subtropics and temperate zones. The ornamental tree known to us Rhus typhina originally from the eastern part of North America.

The vinegar tree grows single-shoot as a small tree or with multiple shoots as a large shrub and becomes about 4 to 6 m, in exceptional cases even up to 10 m high and just as wide when old. In the young years the vinegar tree creates 30 to 40 cm annual growth, with age the growth decreases sharply. The young shoots are hairy brown and velvety soft, the bark is then dark brown in color and interspersed with milky sap.

The deciduous small tree forms thick, branched, antler-like shoots. This is where the typical lanceolate, pinnate leaves of the vinegar tree, up to 60 cm long, attach. They are grass-green on the top and light gray-green on the underside, after the summer the splendid autumn color arises in bright shades of yellow orange to scarlet red.

From June to July the up to 20 cm long yellow-green and upright flower panicles bloom at the end of the annual wood. They provide plenty of nectar and pollen to bees and other pollinators. After pollination, the dark red, velvety seeds form on the bulb-shaped seed heads. These stay on the plant in winter and make them look very decorative. The taste of the vinegar tree fruits is sour - they used to be added to vinegar to make it even more sour.

Harvest and use of the vinegar tree fruits

In late autumn from October, but also throughout the winter, the fruit stands of the vinegar tree can be harvested and dried. The seeds of the vinegar tree are edible. The so-called "Indian Lemonade" has been made from it in the USA for a long time: a sour, reddish soft drink made from vinegar tree fruits that have been left to steep in water, and Sugar. The dried seeds are sour and aromatic, they are used for seasoning. Vinegar tree spice made from the seeds of Rhus coriaria is often used under the name "Sumach" and in the Zahtar spice mixture in oriental cuisine in salads, fish and meat dishes.

Is the vinegar tree poisonous?

The vinegar tree is slightly poisonous in all parts except for its ripe fruits. For herbivores such as horses, rabbits, etc., consuming large amounts can lead to stomach cramps. Even dogs that occasionally nibble on leaves cannot tolerate vinegar leaves or other parts of the plant. The milky sap that escapes from injuries is generally irritating to the skin, which is why gloves should be worn when moving or cutting vinegar trees.

The best vinegar tree species and varieties

There are different types and varieties of the vinegar tree, which differ significantly in terms of leaf shape and height. We will introduce you to the most important types of ornamental wood. All these species and varieties are completely hardy down to below -20 ° C in our latitudes.

• Rhus typhina ˈDissectaˈ: Curly growing fern frond vinegar tree with finely pinnate leaves that are split like a fern. Can be 4 m high and up to twice as wide.
• Rhus typhina ˈTiger Eyesˈ: A very small vinegar tree variety, only 1.5 to 2 m high. The autumn color covers all the colors of a tiger's eye - hence the name.
• Rhus glabra: Scarlet sumac with a height of 2 to 3 m and completely hairless shoots. Extremely ornamental in autumn with fiery orange-red leaves and wine-red fruit heads.
• Rhus glabra ˈLaciniataˈ: Slotted vinegar tree with comparatively weak growth and bright red autumn colors. This species and variety reaches a height and width of 2 to 3 m.

Note on the risk of confusion: At first glance, the vinegar tree is easy to confuse with the tree of gods (Ailanthus altissima). The pinnate leaf shape, the velvety hairy shoots and the inflorescences are very similar to each other. The tree of the gods, however, reaches a height of over 20 m and its fruit stands are not cobs, but winged seeds, which are more likely to be found on maple (Acer sp.) remember.

Planting a vinegar tree

The ideal location for vinegar trees is sunny on well drained, moderately nutrient-rich and preferably slightly sandy soils. Otherwise, the ornamental wood is extremely undemanding, because it thrives in moderately dry and damp locations, regardless of whether they are acidic or alkaline, sandy or clayey.

The right time to plant vinegar trees is autumn or early spring. From October to November, when the trees go into hibernation and thus hardly any more water evaporates, new roots can form in peace. If you plant your vinegar tree in spring, you should water it regularly for the first few weeks until the tree has grown well. Plants or seeds can be purchased from the vinegar tree, the most common is the planting of small trees.

First loosen the soil over a large area and not just at the future planting site. Now place your plants in a dug planting hole and, if necessary, give them a little mainly organic long-term fertilizer - like ours Plantura organic universal fertilizer - added. You can get very sandy soils with a high-quality potting soil like ours Plantura organic universal soil Mix. Fertilizing with organic fertilizers is particularly worthwhile when planting, as these provide nutrients over the long term. Then fill the hole again with the excavated soil and water the vinegar tree well. You should keep a minimum distance of 3 m to other plants so that the vinegar tree has enough space to spread.

Attention: Since the vinegar tree is mainly after pruning increased via runners, we strongly recommend that you dig a root barrier when planting vinegar trees. This should reach at least 60 cm deep and can effectively prevent the many branches of the vinegar tree from spreading.

Care of the vinegar tree

The vinegar tree is very easy to care for throughout the year. Water should only be used in extremely dry summers, especially in the first few years after planting. Later on, the vinegar tree can cover its water needs well by itself, even if it is dry a little longer. Since the vinegar tree is a shallow root, you should absolutely avoid digging or chopping under the ornamental tree. This can quickly damage many roots. On poor soils, it is worth adding a small amount of fertilizer every year in the spring at the beginning of the leaf shoot.

You rarely have to prune vinegar trees. Only if individual branches interfere with the location can they be removed. Otherwise, the deer piston umach forms its funnel-shaped or roof-shaped crown on its own. Should you still have to put on the scissors, the right time is early spring - February to March. You should wear gloves because of the milk sap that is irritating to the skin.

Tip: If the fleshy, flat roots of the vinegar tree are injured, this encourages it to form many root runners. Therefore, you should definitely leave this area untouched, because the tree's strong growth activity is often retained for years. Too much pruning also results in this.

Vinegar tree in the bucket

Only weak-growing varieties, such as Rhus typhina ˈTiger Eyesˈ, are suitable for growing in pots. First choose a sufficiently large planter with a volume of at least 20 liters. Make sure that the water drains well and that there is an approximately 5 cm thick drainage layer made of coarse gravel, sand or expanded clay at the bottom of the container. Now plant the vinegar tree in loose potting soil like ours Plantura organic universal soil. This works entirely without peat and stores sufficient moisture thanks to its high compost content. In addition, it already contains important nutrients that promote and accelerate the growth of the vinegar tree. The ornamental tree, which grows quickly when young, needs a new, larger pot about every two years and should always be given fertilizer on this occasion. Due to the limited volume of soil in the pot, nutrients are quickly used up and should then be refreshed.

Hibernate the vinegar tree

Vinegar trees are extremely hardy trees and do not need any protection from the cold in the garden.
However, it looks different with a vinegar tree in the pot, because there is the risk that the soil in the bucket, including the roots, will freeze through and the tree will die. The decorative small tree should be protected over the winter in a cool garden shed, shed or in a protected carport. With the help of fleece on the outside and a thick layer of leaves or styrofoam under the container of the tree, you can also insulate the vinegar tree in the pot well. The wintering quarters should be light and cool, the temperatures may also drop slightly into the minus range. With a low water supply, the vinegar tree gets through the winter so well. In the house or winter garden, on the other hand, it is far too warm for the vinegar tree to overwinter.

Propagate the vinegar tree: offshoots, seeds and co

The vinegar tree can be propagated by root runners, root cuttings, cuttings or from seeds:

To existing Runners To use it, use a spade to cut off the vinegar offshoot generously all around and thus separate the connection to the mother plant. Now you can plant the new vinegar tree in a different place. Propagation via cuttings is best done - just like planting - in autumn or early spring before the leaves shoot.

Also from pieces of thick roots, the so-called Root cuttings, new vinegar trees are growing. This is the method used by nurseries to propagate their varieties. All you have to do is dig up a thick, fleshy root and place it in moist, well-drained potting soil. With a little time, a new plant will grow out of it.

Cuttings of the vinegar tree are a gentle method of propagation. For this purpose, about 15 cm long, healthy and young shoots are cut off in winter and half of them are placed in loose and permeable soil. For example, you can use our Plantura organic herb & seed compost and mix them with sand or perlite to further increase the aeration of the soil. In a bright, cool place with temperatures between 6 and 12 ° C, the cuttings will form roots within a few months. Always keep the soil slightly moist during this process.

Vinegar tree seeds harvest in October when the red-brown cobs are well ripe. Cut off whole seed heads and dry them at home until the seeds fall off on their own. Planting vinegar trees is not an easy task. It requires a few weeks of patience, because the seeds are kept from germinating by a dormancy and need a cold stimulus to germinate. You proceed as follows:

1. Soak the vinegar seeds in hot water for 24 hours.
2. Mix with a damp sand-earth mixture in a ratio of 1: 1.
3. Pour into a plastic bag and place in the refrigerator.
4. At 4 - 6 ° C the seeds stay in the refrigerator for about 4 weeks.
5. Then sow the seeds in a nutrient-poor potting soil like ours Plantura organic herb & seed compost. The sowing depth is about 0.5 cm.
6. Now set up the seed pot in a light and warm place at 15 - 20 ° C.
7. Keep the seeds moist for the next few weeks until germination and prick out as soon as the first true pair of leaves forms after the cotyledons.

Tip: Sometimes the seeds of the vinegar tree begin to germinate in the bag in the refrigerator. In this case, they should be taken out directly and converted into potting soil.

Removing vinegar tree: how to get rid of it

Birds like to spread vinegar trees through their seeds in gardens - but the large shrub, which is so pretty in autumn, is not always welcome. Because a new plant can develop from each of the fleshy roots, it is not enough to cut the tree or only partially excavate it. The roots should be removed as completely as possible.
The roots of the vinegar tree can also quickly become a nuisance in the garden, even if you want to keep the tree. In order to save yourself a lot of trouble, you should be careful not to cut the vinegar tree too much and not to damage the roots. In this way, the root runners do not even emerge. Using a deep root barrier when planting is also a good measure to avoid problems with the runners later. Once they are there, it is a good way to get rid of the young shoots by mowing them regularly. Larger and already slightly woody plants should be cut off generously with a spade, removing as many roots as possible.

Ornamental trees and shrubs with a bright autumn color quickly attract the eye in any garden. Discover more species in our special article Bushes and trees with intense autumn colors.