Lemonade Berry Vs. Sugarbush

Rhus integrifolia vs. Rhus ovata

I love when Facebook pops up what I was doing on this date in previous years, especially when I’m having a rather crummy day and the reminder is something I did that was super fun. Sometimes, however, it reminds me of cool plants and animals I have encountered. Today’s reminder was a photo of a Lemonade Berry plant, or is it a Sugar Bush? After all these years, I still struggle to tell them apart.

Both plants are California shrubs with fuzzy red berries and both are members of the sumac family (yes, the poisonous plant), but then mangoes and cashews are also in that family.

I was always told you can tell them apart by where they are. If you can see the ocean from the location of the plant, it is Lemonade Berry. If you can’t, it is Sugar Bush. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Some plant differences I have found online are Lemonade Berry has thick, flat green leaves that are usually serrated, and Sugar Bush has glossy, dark, folded leaves that are pointed. They still both look very similar to me.

Native tribes used the berries of both plants to make lemonade or a sweet drink and they also have some medicinal qualities.
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So, if you find yourself in the Santa Monica Mountains or other areas where these plants grow, see if you can tell them apart. And if you have a handy trick for differentiating them, please let me know!

Sugarbush (I think) taken by me

Lemonade Berry (I hope) Wikimedia Commons