Rhus microphylla aka Desert Sumac

Rhus microphylla, called desert sumac or scrub sumac, is a deciduous shrub. It belongs to the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. Its native range stretches from Arizona to southwest Oklahoma and Mexico. It grows on dry, rocky slopes and gravelly mesas. These sites lie at elevations of 1,970–5,905 feet [600–1,800 metres]. Its native climate is subtropical.

Plants For A Future lists a height of about 6.6 feet [2 metres]. Virginia Tech describes larger shrubs or small trees reaching 15 feet [4.6 metres]. The plant has a broad, spreading form. Its light gray bark starts smooth and may grow scaly. Slender, stiff twigs bear many short side shoots. Some shoots end in sharp points. The alternate leaves are pinnate, with five to nine small leaflets. Each leaf has a winged central stalk. The leaflets are dull green, slightly hairy above, and paler below.

Small, pale yellow-white flowers open in spring before the leaves. They grow in dense clusters at shoot tips and leaf axils. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Bees pollinate them, and seed production needs both sexes. The fruit is a small drupe with short, sticky red hairs. Its colour ranges from orange-red to reddish brown. Fruits ripen in late summer and can remain through winter. These lasting fruit clusters add interest after the leaves fall.

Grow desert sumac in full sun with good drainage. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils, and prefers dry ground. It tolerates mildly acid through mildly alkaline soil. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 8–11. It also warns that outdoor growth in Britain may fail, even in mild areas. Late frosts can harm new spring growth. Strong winds can snap its brittle branches. Coral spot fungus is another reported problem. A sunny bed or space beside a south-facing wall suits its listed garden uses.

The sour fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It has little flesh, but can flavour drinks or make jam. Seed oil can serve in candles, though the smoke smells strong. The tannin-rich leaves provide brown dye and help fix dyes. No medicinal uses are known in the cited account. That source describes this species as nonpoisonous. It also notes unconfirmed reports of sap causing rashes in sensitive people.