Lemonade berry
Schmaltzia integrifolia

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 3 m tall. It has many spreading branches. The leaves are dark green and leathery. The edges can have small sharp teeth. The flowers are white to pink and small in tight clusters at the ends of the branches. The fruit is fleshy and flat and sticky.

There are about 200 Rhus species.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It is drought tolerant once established and can tolerate frost. In California it grows up to 850 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Central America, Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are used to make a drink. They are crushed in water. It should not be boiled as this releases tannic acid. They can be dried for later use.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Sourberry, Lemonade sumac

Synonyms

Neostyphonia integrifolia (Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray) Shafer; Rhus integrifolia (Nutt.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Rothr.; Schmaltzia integrifolia (Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray) F. A. Barkley; Styphonia integrifolia Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray; Toxicodendron integrifolium (Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray) Kuntze;