Vinaigrier de virginie
Rhus typhina
Textile Properties
Fabric
- Best dye and mordant results on washed natural fibres
Pretreatment
- Fresh and dried leaves make an excellent tannin-rich mordant
Dye
- Fresh leaves can produce a dye ranging from chartreuse to grey depending on preparation
- Fresh berries can produce a strawberry pink to clay red dye
- Dried leaves and berries will dye with reduced vibrancy
Background
- Staghorn sumac is native to Turtle Island
Qualities
- Hummingbirds like to perch on its branches
- Sumac berries can be used in recipes to make lemonade, za’atar and tea.
- Astringent
- Closely resembles the poisonous tree of heaven– identify before harvesting!
- Tolerant to drought, salt, limestone, acidic soil, juglone conditions, transplantation
- Lands cleared for agriculture often begin rewilding through the growth of sumac trees