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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Rhus succedanea is a deciduous Tree growing to 9 m (29ft) by 9 m (29ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in July, and the seeds ripen from September to November. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Toxicodendron succedaneum. (L.)Mold.
Plant Habitats
Woodland Garden Secondary; Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit Oil
Edible Uses: Drink Oil
Fruit[105]. The acid pulp is eaten[158, 272]. The edible fruit contains ellagic acid[218]. These reports need to be treated with some caution due to the general toxicity of the species[K].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antidote Antivinous Cancer Cholagogue Febrifuge Ophthalmic
Antidote, antivinous, cholagogue, febrifuge, ophthalmic. Used as a wash to counteract varnish poisoning[178]. Use with extreme caution, see notes above on toxicity. The fruit is used in the treatment of phthisis[240]. A wax from the fruits is used in ointments[218]. An ethanolic extract of the leaves exhibits anticancer and antiviral activities[218].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Dye Lacquer Mordant Oil Varnish Wax
The leaves contain about 20% tannin[218]. They can be collected as they fall in the autumn and used as a brown dye or as a mordant[169]. The sap is tapped and used as a lacquer[57, 64, 146, 158, 171]. It is much used in Japanese art and needs to be kept in a cool humid place for it to dry properly. The Japanese traditionally kept their paintings in a damp cave until the lacquer had dried. A yellow dye is obtained from the wood[178]. A wax obtained from the fruit is used to make candles, floor wax, varnish etc[1, 4, 11, 51, 64, 158, 171]. The fruit contains about 17% wax[174]. The fatty acid composition of the wax is 77% palmitic, 5% stearic and arachidic, 6% dibasic, 12% oleic and a trace of linoleic[218]. The seed oil contains 25% glycerides of palmitic, 47% oleic and 28% linoleic[218].
Special Uses
Carbon Farming
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Industrial Crop: Oil Industrial Crop: Wax Management: Standard Regional Crop
Succeeds in a well-drained fertile soil in full sun[11, 200]. Plants are not very hardy in Britain, though they succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of the country[1, 11]. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. Plants have brittle branches and these can be broken off in strong winds[200]. Plants are also susceptible to coral spot fungus[11]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. This species is frequently cultivated in Japan for its sap and the wax obtained from its fruit[11]. Many of the species in this genus, including this one, are highly toxic and can also cause severe irritation to the skin of some people, whilst other species are not poisonous. It is relatively simple to distinguish which is which, the poisonous species have axillary panicles and smooth fruits whilst non-poisonous species have compound terminal panicles and fruits covered with acid crimson hairs[1, 4]. The toxic species are sometimes separated into their own genus, Toxicodendron, by some botanists[200]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
Carbon Farming
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Industrial Crop: Oil
Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, biomass, glycerin, soaps, lubricants, paints, biodiesel. Oilseed crop types.
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Industrial Crop: Wax
Water resistant, malleable substances. Currently, most commercial wax is made from paraffin - a fossil fuel.
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Management: Standard
Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
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Regional Crop
These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in hot water (starting at a temperature of 80 - 90c and allowing it to cool) prior to sowing in order to leach out any germination inhibitors[200]. The stored seed also needs hot water treatment and can be sown in early spring in a cold frame[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[200]. Root cuttings 4cm long taken in December and potted up vertically in a greenhouse. Good percentage[78, 200]. Suckers in late autumn to winter[200].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Wax Tree. Japanese wax tree, Japan tallow, Bhalayo, Bhalayo, Bol-khatthi, Bol-micheng, Choklu, Ding-keon, Habatul-khizra, Hakkai, Hala, Halashi, Kado ling, Kakada-shingi, Kakain, Kakeera-sryngi, Kakkata-theingi, Kakra-singri, Karkata-shringi, Karkkaadagasurgi, Kattara-thinche, Khaen mo, Lakhar, Makkak khao, Makok kiam, Raniwhalayo, Rikhul, Sadao chaang, Serhnyok, Shah, Wild varnish tree
Native Range
TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Anhui Sheng, Fujian Sheng, Gansu Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Guizhou Sheng, Hainan Sheng, Hebei Sheng, Henan Sheng, Hubei Sheng, Hunan Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Jiangxi Sheng, Ningxia Huizi Zizhiqu, Qinghai Sheng, Shaanxi Sheng, Shandong Sheng, Shanxi Sheng, Sichuan Sheng, Xizang Zizhiqu (southeast), Yunnan Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng), Korea, Japan (Honshu, Kyushu, Ryukyu Islands, Shikoku), Taiwan TROPICAL ASIA: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India (Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh), Nepal, Pakistan (north), Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia (Sumatera (north))
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
No
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
| Related Plants
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Rhus ambigua | | Climber | 0.0 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | M | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Rhus aromatica | Lemon Sumach, Fragrant sumac | Shrub | 1.2 |
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4-10
| F | LMH | N | DM | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Rhus coriaria | Elm-Leaved Sumach, Sicilian sumac | Shrub | 3.0 |
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| | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Rhus diversiloba | Western Poison Oak, Pacific poison oak | Shrub | 2.5 |
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| | LMH | N | M | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Rhus glabra | Smooth Sumach | Shrub | 3.0 |
3-9
| M | LMH | N | DM | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Rhus integrifolia | Lemonade Berry, Lemonade sumac | Shrub | 2.0 |
8-10
| M | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Rhus microphylla | Desert Sumach, Littleleaf sumac | Shrub | 2.0 |
8-11
| | LMH | N | D | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Rhus ovata | Sugar Bush, Sugar sumac | Shrub | 2.0 |
8-11
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Rhus potaninii | | Tree | 12.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | N | M | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Rhus punjabensis | | Tree | 12.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Rhus punjabensis sinica | | Tree | 12.0 |
5-9
| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Rhus radicans | Poison Ivy | Climber | 2.5 |
4-8
| F | LMH | N | M | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Rhus sempervirens | | Shrub | 3.5 |
-
| | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Rhus sylvestris | | Tree | 10.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Rhus toxicodendron | Eastern Poison Oak | Shrub | 0.6 |
6-9
| | LMH | N | DM | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Rhus trichocarpa | | Tree | 6.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Rhus trilobata | Skunk Bush, Basketbush, Squawbush, Three Leaf Sumac | Shrub | 1.8 |
4-6
| M | LMH | N | DM | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Rhus typhina | Stag's Horn Sumach, Velvet Sumac, Staghorn Sumac | Shrub | 6.0 |
4-8
| F | LMH | N | DM | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Rhus vernix | Poison Sumach | Shrub | 3.0 |
3-7
| | LMH | N | MWe | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Rhus wallichii | | Tree | 8.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Rhus x pulvinata | | Shrub | 3.0 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | DM | 4 | 2 | 2 |
|
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
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