Virginia Tech Dendrology

Kearney's sumac Anacardiaceae Rhus kearneyi F.A. Barkley symbol: RHKE
Leaf: Alternate, simple, evergreen, ovate to oval, leathery, 1 to 2 inches long, dull pointed, entire margin, entire leaf often puckered upward, shiny green above, paler beneath, petiole pink.
Flower: Species is dioecious; tight clusters of very small white to pink flowers with 5 petals, clusters occur at ends of twigs and are 2 to 3 inches long, appearing in spring.
Fruit: Elliptical, somewhat flattened drupe, 1/3 inch across, fuzzy and red in small clusters at the ends of the twigs, ripens in late summer and persists into winter.
Twig: Moderately stout, red and green with a fine gray fuzz (later turning gray and smooth); buds small, hairy, nearly hidden by petiole.
Bark: Smooth and grayish brown with faint horizontal lenticels, on largest specimens a bit scaly and rough.
Form: Large thicket forming shrub reaching up to 10 feet with a spreading, sprawling crown.
Looks like: lentisco

Additional Range Information: Rhus kearneyi is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database - USDAFS Forest Products Lab
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information