Smooth Sumac #5
$55.00
Sale price
$55.00
Regular price
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Smooth Sumac #5
$55.00
Sale price
$55.00
Regular price
Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) is a resilient, non-poisonous native North American deciduous shrub that grows 10 to 20 feet tall and features brilliant red fall foliage and upright clusters of crimson fruit.
Appearance: A multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with smooth, hairless, stout twigs (unlike the fuzzy twigs of the staghorn sumac).
Leaves: Large, pinnately compound leaves (12–20 inches long) with 11 to 31 sharply toothed leaflets that turn a vibrant scarlet, orange, and purple in the autumn.
Flowers & Fruit: Dense, pyramid-shaped clusters of small greenish-yellow flowers bloom in the summer. Female plants produce fuzzy, dark-red berry clusters (drupes) that persist through the winter.
Growth Habit: Spreads aggressively via root suckers to form dense thickets or colonies.
Sunlight: Prefers full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily) for the best growth and vibrant fall colors.
Soil: Highly adaptable to sandy, loamy, or clay soils, provided the site is well-draining.
Water: Highly drought-tolerant once established; water consistently during the first year to build a strong root system.
Maintenance: Very low maintenance. Pruning is only needed in late winter or early spring to remove dead wood or control the spread of root suckers.
Wildlife: Provides an essential winter food source for birds and small mammals, and attracts native pollinators.
Erosion Control: Excellent for stabilizing dry banks, slopes, and disturbed areas.
Traditional & Practical Uses: Indigenous peoples used the tart red berries to make beverages, and parts of the plant were used for natural dyes and basketry.