General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Tree
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Plant Height: 50 to 65 feet (15-20 m)
Leaves: Good fall color
Deciduous
Fruit: Showy
Flower Color: Yellow
Toxicity: Other: Sap, which contains urushiol oil, can cause rash, sometimes severe.
Propagation: Seeds: Self fertile
Pollinators: Bees

Image
Common names
  • Chinese Lacquer Tree
  • Varnish Tree
  • Japanese Lacquer Tree
  • Japanese Sumac
  • Urushi
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Toxicodendron vernicifluum
  • Synonym: Rhus verniciflua

Photo Gallery

photo credit: Maghasito

photo credit: Aomorikuma

photo credit: Maghasito

photo credit: Maghasito
Comments:
  • Posted by eclayne (Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA - Zone 6a) on Mar 24, 2014 9:25 PM concerning plant:
    Trees are cultivated for their sap, which is used to create Chinese and Japanese lacquerware. Lacquer has been used in China for over 2,000 years as an effective, transparent protective coating as well as for making Cinnabar. The Terracotta Warriors, ca. 210 BC, were painted and then coated with lacquer prior to being buried.

    The toxic sap contains urushiol oil, as do other Toxicodendron species such as Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) and Eastern Poison Oak (Toxicodendron pubescens).

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