Compound leaves are shiny dark green on top and almost white on the undersides. Compact clusters of dark red, velvety berries form August-September. May be steeped for tea. The brilliant red fall foliage becomes a focal point in the landscape.
Native Plant Database
Header Photo: Mervin Wallace
Smooth Sumac
Rhus glabra
Plant Type: Shrubs
Native Environment: Savanna / Woodland, Prairie
Season of Interest: Late (July - frost)
Main Color: Green
Fall Color: Orange, Red, Yellow
Hardy From Zone:
Hardy To Zone:
?
Hardiness Zones
as defined by the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map; (hardiness zones are not recorded for all Grow Native! plants)
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil
Moisture
Dry, Moderate
Nature Attracting
Pollinators/Beneficial Insects
Wildlife Benefit
Food/Birds, Food/Pollinators, Butterfly / Moth Nectar
Animal
Resistance
Size
Height:
9 to
12
feet
Spread:
9 to
12
feet
Size
Height: 9 to
12
feet
Spread: 9 to
12
feet
Size
Height: 9 to
12
feet
Spread: 9 to
12
feet
Typical Landscape Use
Plant in shrub border, hedgerow or screen. Naturalize along the edge of a woodland. Berries attract birds.
Establishment and Care Instructions
Grows aggressively from suckers. Remove suckers to prevent unwanted spread. Very adaptable. Cut plants to ground every 2-3 years to reduce height.
Special Features
Special Usage
Fragrant, Edible
Basic Description
Where Should I Start?
Check out the Grow Native! Committee’s Top Ten picks of native plants for a particular purpose.
What’s the Next Step?
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Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?
Learn about the Native Environment(s) inhabited by the plants in this database.