How to Germinate Winged Sumac

Winged sumac (Rhus copallinum L.) is a large, deciduous shrub that bears shiny green foliage and compact yellow flower panicles. It offers fall interest when its foliage turns a flaming orange-red and the shrub produces small round fruit. Only the female winged sumacs produce seed at maturity -- at least three years of age. Use caution when choosing a planting site for the winged sumac because its lateral roots spread out and may grow up to three feet per year. Winged sumac seeds have a tough outer seed coat that requires cracking to break the seed's dormancy.

Small knife or sandpaper
Small bowl
Heat mat (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Scarify the winged sumac seed to force it to break dormancy. There are several ways to accomplish this: Chip off a tiny portion of the seed coat with a small, sharp knife or rub the seed between two pieces of sandpaper. You don't need to remove a lot of the seed coat, just enough to allow water to penetrate to the embryo.
- 2
  Soak the winged sumac seed overnight in a bowl of room-temperature tap water.
- 3
  Choose a germination container for the seed that has plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. The seed will rot if it sits in soggy soil. Fill the pot with equal parts of sand or vermiculite and compost and moisten it thoroughly.
- 4
  Set the seed on the surface of the soil and sprinkle moist sand or vermiculite over it until it is just covered. The soil needs to remain at a constant 68 degrees Fahrenheit to encourage germination. A heat mat works well to fulfill this requirement. In a lightly shaded spot, the winged sumac seed should germinate within one to three months.

What Causes Winter Scorch on a Rhododendron?

How to Design a Boxwood Garden

Shrubs