Dear expert gardeners,
Thanks for your lovely show.
My backyard backs into ravine.
A tree is growing just outside the fence & branches are now coming into my property.
Few of the same tree are in a distance.
What is this tree? Name?
Benign & benevolent?
Or maybe create problems later.
Pictures are:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11RCzLaTLaue7F2zoTrisCFknGxd3x1hd
Please let me know via email.
Thanks,
Hello and thank you for your question. Based on the photo you included, you have a beautiful staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina). It is native to Ontario. According to the North Carolina Extension Gardener: “This plant is a larval host plant, attracts pollinators and the deep red berries are a welcome fall and winter food source for songbirds making this tree an excellent addition to a wildlife or woodland garden.” You should be aware that, as also noted in the same website, staghorn sumacs can spread aggressively through root suckers – this is how they form the arching clusters that are so typical of this species – so you may want to watch for this and remove or mow any that you do not want in your backyard.
Staghorn sumacs have gorgeous red foliage in the autumn and a sculptural form in the winter.
If you would like more information or to see more photos of staghorn sumacs, please check out these links to the University of Guelph and the Morton Arboretum.
You are very lucky to back onto a ravine! Here is a link to the City of Toronto’s publication, A Property Owner’s Guide to Healthy Ravines. It gives great information that you may find helpful. Enjoy your view of the beautiful sumac this autumn.