Smooth Sumac vs Mary Washington Asparagus

Smooth Sumac is an excellent shrub for both its ornamental appeal and tolerance of difficult planting sites. You'll love the attractive pyramidal spikes of hairy, red berries that emerge on female plants and the fern-like foliage that covers both male and female varieties.

Ensure you give Smooth Sumac enough space to spread out due to its high suckering nature. While not ideal for small, urban yards, this shrub will make a stunning border along a woodland edge or roadside.

Note:These plants typically reach maturity and make their sex easily known (females producing fruit) in their 3rd or 4th year of growth. Our seedlings are too young to identify their sex.

The Mary Washington Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that produces edible shoots or spears that may be harvested in April-May. This plant is an heirloom which produces large green stalks that can be harvested earlier than other asparagus cultivars, and the spears feature a crisp, nutty flavor. There are male and female plants, and the females can grow into towering ferns after going to seed for the year.
The Mary Washington Asparagus gets its name from the mother of George Washington, who was married to the plant breeder Augustine Washington. For a more reliable asparagus crop, it is recommended that you don’t harvest in the first year and allow it to establish its root systems.

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