Description

African Sumac (Searsia lancea AKA Rhus Lancea) is an excellent small tree for California-friendly gardens. This tree is native to South Africa, but it can be found all over Southern California as garden specimens, street trees, and in parking lots. It matures at 20- 30' tall and wide and has soft, weeping foliage that can reach the ground if the branches are not pruned. It can be planted in a variety of soil types, but it is drought-tolerant and prefers most of its irrigation during the fall, winter, and spring. It is susceptible to root rot in the summer if the soil is too wet. When it is young, it will greatly benefit from some frequent pruning to encourage growth upward. The tree branches tend to arch and weep when the tree is young, so thinning out some of the foliage and reducing the weight will allow the branches to pop back upright. The natural growth habit is more shrub-like, especially when it is in the multi-trunk form, so removing some of the lower new branches and exposing the trunk will improve the look and shape. Once the tree reaches a more mature state, the pruning should be performed by a licensed arborist to keep it looking and performing at its best. This tree should be planted at least four feet away from any hardscape areas, 15 feet from structures such as houses and buildings, and not near any powerlines. Shrubs and perennials should be planted about three feet away from this tree. It should be irrigated for about 45 minutes once a week when using most in-line drip irrigation systems.