Plant Database
African Sumac Tree
Searsia lancea, Rhus lancea, Willow Rhus
Rhus Lancea is a tough, clean, and well-behaved evergreen tree that is a vastly superior alternative to the problematic California Pepper Tree for most landscapes. It forms a dense, rounded canopy of dark green, leathery leaves, produces little litter, and has a non-invasive root system. Its drought tolerance and tidy habit make it an excellent low-maintenance shade or street tree.
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Forms a dense, dark green, rounded canopy that provides excellent, clean shade with minimal leaf drop (it’s an evergreen).
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Produces small, attractive red berries on female trees that are favored by birds but are not messy like Pepper Tree berries.
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Exceptionally drought and heat tolerant once established, thriving in full sun with very low water requirements. It also tolerates poor, rocky, and alkaline soils.
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Well-behaved roots that are not known to be invasive or destructive to hardscapes, making it safe for planting in lawns and near sidewalks.
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A low-maintenance, pest-free tree that provides year-round structure and shade without the headaches.