Smooth Sumac
Rhus glabra
Also listed as Rhus albida, Rhus borealis
Also known as Scarlet Sumac, Red Sumac, Vinegar-bush
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A native deciduous shrub with smooth red stems and dense foliage that turns brilliant orange-red in fall. It produces fuzzy red berry clusters in late summer that persist into winter.
Why grow it
Smooth sumac offers reliable fall color and persistent winter fruit without the thorns found on staghorn sumac, making it easier to handle during maintenance. Its suckering habit creates dense screening quickly on poor soils where many ornamentals struggle, though this vigor requires space or deliberate management. The fuzzy red drupes attract wildlife and provide visual interest through winter months when few native shrubs remain ornamental.
Watch out for
Smooth sumac spreads vigorously via rhizomes and can become weedy in cultivated spaces if not managed with root barriers or regular removal of new shoots. It prefers well-drained soils and full sun; in shade or wet conditions, it tends toward leggy growth and reduced berry production. Prune in late winter to maintain shape and encourage denser branching.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Anacardiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A native deciduous shrub with smooth red stems and dense foliage that turns brilliant orange-red in fall. It produces fuzzy red berry clusters in late summer that persist into winter.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Smooth Sumac grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Smooth sumac offers reliable fall color and persistent winter fruit without the thorns found on staghorn sumac, making it easier to handle during maintenance. Its suckering habit creates dense screening quickly on poor soils where many ornamentals struggle, though this vigor requires space or deliberate management. The fuzzy red drupes attract wildlife and provide visual interest through winter months when few native shrubs remain ornamental.
Watch out for
Smooth sumac spreads vigorously via rhizomes and can become weedy in cultivated spaces if not managed with root barriers or regular removal of new shoots. It prefers well-drained soils and full sun; in shade or wet conditions, it tends toward leggy growth and reduced berry production. Prune in late winter to maintain shape and encourage denser branching.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Anacardiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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