Winged Sumac Rhus copallinum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- RHOOS koh-pahl-LIH-num
- Description
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Winged sumac is a native deciduous shrub or small tree in the Anacardiaceae family that is found in Central and Eastern USA and all areas of NC. It spreads by root suckers to form large colonies and is an important winter food source for many birds, mammals, and pollinators including bees. Summer flowers are in dense panicles from July to September. The central stem of the compound leaves has a distinctive wing between the leaflets. The leaves have an excellent red fall color. Drupes appear in fall and persist into winter. Shrubs are usually separate male and female plants so both are needed for fruit set.
Winged Sumac does best in moist to dry fertile soils but is tolerant of a wide range of soil types including poor ones except for wet sites. Full sun is best as it is not very shade tolerant.
This shrub could be used as a hedge in an area where it can spread. Otherwise, it is best used in naturalized areas for wildlife value but where the fall color can be enjoyed or on slopes for erosion control where it will spread by suckers.
It is a host plant for the Luna moth (Actias luna) as well as the Red banded hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) butterfly.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. There is some susceptibility to leaf spots, rusts, scale, aphids, and mites. It tends to spread aggressively by root suckersI
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Creel's Quintet'
Dwarf female variety
- 'Creel's Quintet'
- 'Creel's Quintet'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Creel's Quintet'
Dwarf female variety
- 'Creel's Quintet'
- 'Creel's Quintet'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rhus
- Species:
- copallinum
- Family:
- Anacardiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Eastern USA and parts of Canada
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant provides nectar for pollinators. It is a larval host plant for Red-Banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) which has two broods a year from April-October. It is also a host plant for the Luna moth. Butterflies and bees nectar at the flowers. Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, white-tailed deer, opossums, wild turkey, and quail. Its bark is eaten by rabbits.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- fire in the landscape. Heat and drought tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 7 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- Clusters of 1/4 inch dark red drupes that are covered with short hairs. Each drupe contains a smooth stone and persists through the winter, gradually becoming black.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1/8 inch greenish-yellow flowers with 5 petals in terminal 3-6 inch panicles from July to September. Often occurs as separate male and female plants (dioecious). Blooms from July to September.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Large compound, odd-pinnate leaves up to 12 inches long with 9-21 oblong-lanceolate, shiny dark green leaflets up to 4 inches long. Margins are entire, base rounded and apex sharply pointed. Central leaf stalk is winged between the leaflets. Undersides paler with a few hairs. The leaves turn flame red in autumn.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Its bark is smooth and light brown with numerous lenticels when young. Large, thin scales develop as the tree ages.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
- C-shaped, Cresent shaped
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stem is speckled with lenticels and covered with fine, velvety, reddish-brown hair. Buds are small, rounded and hairy, leaf scars u-shaped.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Erosion
- Fire
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
