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Smooth Sumac

Rhus glabra

Sister to staghorn sumac but with smooth (not fuzzy) twigs. Crimson seed cones persist all winter — used to make 'sumac-ade'. Brilliant red fall color. Suckers freely into colonies. Like other sumacs, the tart fruit clusters steep into a lemonade-like drink once soaked (don't boil the mixture, which releases bitter tannins).

Family

Anacardiaceae

Type

tree

Lifespan

perennial

Height

9–15 ft

Spacing

9–15 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade, shade

Soil moisture

dry

Soil pH

acidic, neutral

Bloom

May, June, July, August

Bloom colors

white, yellow, green, brown

Wildlife value

songbirds, butterflies, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~58 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

specimen, hedge or screen, erosion control

Native states

AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY