Smooth Sumac, Scarlet Sumac, Vinegar Tree
Flamboyant in autumn, Rhus glabra (Smooth Sumac) is an open, spreading, deciduous shrub with nice ornamental features. Its foliage of shiny, deeply dissected, fern-like, deep green leaves, 18 in. long (45 cm), turns brilliant shades of red and orange in fall. Its strong architectural form and elegant silhouette are revealed in winter after the leaves are gone. Cone-shaped panicles of green-yellow flowers bloom in late spring and summer, followed on female plants by conspicuous conical fruiting clusters, 8 in. long (20 cm), in fall. Attractive to wildlife, they gradually turn dark red as they persist through much of the winter. Native to most of the United States and parts of Canada, Rhus glabra is a suckering shrub that will form thickets over time and has the potential to become a nuisance. Great for naturalizing, on difficult slopes and banks.
Sumac plants are a beacon for a variety of bird species, notably the American Goldfinch, American Robin, Black-Capped Chickadee, Blue Jay, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Cardinal, and Northern Mockingbird. With their vibrant foliage and abundant berries, sumacs provide essential food and shelter, making them a cherished habitat for these avian visitors.
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 8 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Anacardiaceae |
| Genus | Rhus |
| Common names | Sumac, Smooth Sumac |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
9' - 15' (270cm - 4.6m) |
| Spread |
9' - 15' (270cm - 4.6m) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy, Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | United States, Maine, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland, Massachusetts, Vermont, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Southeast, Pacific Northwest, California, Northeast, Midwest, Illinois, Missouri, South Dakota, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Nebraska, Indiana, North Dakota, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado |
| Tolerance | Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage |
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 8 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Anacardiaceae |
| Genus | Rhus |
| Common names | Sumac, Smooth Sumac |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
9' - 15' (270cm - 4.6m) |
| Spread |
9' - 15' (270cm - 4.6m) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy, Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | United States, Maine, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland, Massachusetts, Vermont, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Southeast, Pacific Northwest, California, Northeast, Midwest, Illinois, Missouri, South Dakota, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Nebraska, Indiana, North Dakota, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado |
| Tolerance | Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage |
How many Rhus glabra (Smooth Sumac) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Rhus glabra (Smooth Sumac) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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