Smooth Sumac Rhus glabra
- Phonetic Spelling
- RHOOS GLAY-brah
- Description
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Smooth Sumac is a native deciduous shrub appearing in every state and parts of Canada growing 9-15 feet tall and wide. It is found in most regions of NC. It is extremely drought tolerant and is often found in disturbed areas, open woodlands, prairies, on dry rocky hillsides, and in canyons. Smooth Sumac tends to spread by suckers and forms dense colonies but is an important winter wildlife food source. Shrubs are separate male and female so both are needed for fruiting.
In summer large panicles of tiny flowers appear and are followed by clusters of red drupes in summer to fall that persist into winter. The large compound leaves have an excellent orange to red fall color. It is adaptable to most soil types except wet ones and tolerates sun to partial shade.
In general, it is too weedy to use in the average landscape so it is best utilized in naturalized areas or on slopes to help control erosion. It could be used as a hedge in an area where it is allowed to spread. It can be rejuvenated by cutting to the ground. This plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. It has some susceptibility to leaf spot, rust, scale, aphids and mites. Tends to spread aggressively.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Laciniata'
- 'Laciniata'
- 'Laciniata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Laciniata'
- 'Laciniata'
- 'Laciniata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rhus
- Species:
- glabra
- Family:
- Anacardiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The leaves of this plant are a source of black ink. Pigment can also be obtained from the wood of this plant and if used in the textile, toy, and paper industry.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- U.S.A. to Canada
- Distribution:
- All states in the 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. Butterflies nectar at the flowers. Its fruits are eaten by songbirds, white-tailed deer, opossums, wild turkeys and quail.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Dimensions:
- Height: 9 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 9 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- 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:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/4 inch red fruit covered in red sticky hairs in clusters from Aug. to October on female plants
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 5-10 inch long panicles of yellowish-green flowers bloom in May to July, with separate male and female flowers appearing on separate plants (dioecious). Individual flowers are 1/4 inch and five-petaled.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, compound leaves are 16-24 inches long with 11-31 sessile leaflets that are lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate and up to 4 inches long and 1 inch wide. Narrowed or rounded at the base and sharply pointed at the tip with sharply toothed edges. Dark green and smooth above and pale beneath with a waxy coating. Red to orange fall color is excellent.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Bark Description:
- Older shrub's bark is brownish-gray, horizontally fissured, and slightly warty. Bark of major branches is brownish-gray to reddish-brown and more smooth.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
- Stem Description:
- The stems and branches are hairless and covered with a whitish waxy coating.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- 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:
- Black Walnut
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Fire
- Heat
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Weedy
