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Can anyone give me the name of this?

charles.gurdcharles.gurd Posts: 9
in Plants

As can be seen, it is very leggie, can I hard prune it, and if so when should I do that, can i take it right back to reduce its size? Thanks
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  • The_herpetologistThe_herpetologist Posts: 481
    edited May 2018
    Stags horn sumach (Rhus typhina). Don’t hard prune or it will sucker everywhere. Lovely in autumn...leaves turn bright bright red.

    It used to be said that its sap was poisonous, but not sure whether this was an old wives tale. Probably best to be careful if you do decide to take a pruning saw to it. Wear gloves.
  • charles.gurdcharles.gurd Posts: 9
    Thanks very much, i guess I can keep it at the same size as it is or slightly less year by year? Would l do that in the autumn? Sorry to ask so many questions, I am not experienced I have moved to a new house and their are a lot of strange plants in the garden
     Thanks again
    Charles
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Be careful what you wish for.  Once it start suckering you'll wish you'd left it alone.  Try just removing any obvious dead wood and then feed it so it puts on better growth.   

    They have good foliage, interesting flowers, great autumn colour and make naturally attractive shapes all by themselves but once they start suckering you're on to a nightmare as they will pop up everywhere.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • The_herpetologistThe_herpetologist Posts: 481
    edited May 2018
    If there are any branches with no leaves on, you can just snap them off. The wood is very brittle. If you take off any ‘live’ branches you may experience suckering. SHSs are ‘leggy’ - in that they are canopy forming as opposed to bushy, so yours is quite normal. I’d just leave it and enjoy the autumn display. It’s nothing special at the moment but come autumn it will be the star of the show. I’ve known people attempt to prune SHSs and really regtretted it as they turned a handsome tree just minding its own business into a real menace.
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    If I happened to have such a tree in my garden I would probably uproot it ASAP. Terrible habit (=shape) and behaviour (=suckering). That said I enjoy watching its autumn foliage in other people's gardens. ;)
  • The_herpetologistThe_herpetologist Posts: 481
    edited May 2018
    Papi Jo said:
    If I happened to have such a tree in my garden I would probably uproot it ASAP. Terrible habit (=shape) and behaviour (=suckering). That said I enjoy watching its autumn foliage in other people's gardens. ;)
    Awwwww surely not Papi Jo? It more than makes up for it’s drawbacks with its luminescent autumnal display. If you don’t like it’s legginess grow a climber up it. A clematis perhaps?
  • charles.gurdcharles.gurd Posts: 9
    You guys really know your stuff, I think it has already started throwing out some suckers but because the soil is a bit thin the suckers seem to be almost on the surface? I guess we'll leave it for a year and see how it looks ... How tall will / can it grow before it calls it a day?
    Charles
  • The_herpetologistThe_herpetologist Posts: 481
    Well....this is mine....


    Wife uses it it as a bird feeder.....
  • The_herpetologistThe_herpetologist Posts: 481
    ...and this is why you should keep it!

  • charles.gurdcharles.gurd Posts: 9
    Whoa, thanks for all your help, seeing that, I think it might be coming out next year after experiencing the autumnal show. Our garden isn't big enough to support something like you have shown. Thanks again .... Best regards Charles
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