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| Smooth Sumac, Scarlet Sumac, Red Sumac, White Sumac, Shoe-make, Vinegar-tree, Senhalanac, Pennsylvania Sumac, Upland Sumac, Sleek Sumac Rhus glabra Anacardiaceae Smooth sumac is equally at home on moist rich soil or dry sandy hills in East Texas, west to the Edwards Plateau and Rolling Plains, into New Mexico and Oklahoma, north through Colorado, Utah, Oregon into British Columbia to Quebec and south to Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida. This fast growing, strongly thicket-forming shrub or small tree has the longest, most ornamental leaves of the sumacs. The very graceful compound leaves are dark green above and may be noticeably white beneath. They change to brilliant hues of orange to red in the fall. Red velvety hairs cover the clusters of somewhat spherical, grape-like fruit, which are enjoyed by wildlife, including wild turkey, bobwhite, deer and cottontails. There are a number of named varieties which are prized for their finely cut leaves, pyramid-shaped fruit cluster or yellow fruit. Smooth sumac is useful for erosion control on slopes and roadsides and to provide shelter for birds and small mammals. Native Americans found numerous medicinal uses for its bark, twigs, flowers and leaves.
Plant Habit or Use: large shrub
Exposure: sun Flower Color: white or green
Blooming Period: spring Fruit Characteristics: scarlet red subglobose drupe Height: 20 feet Width: 10 to 30 feet, spreading Plant Character: deciduous Heat Tolerance: high Water Requirements:
Soil Requirements: neutral Additional Comments:
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