Smooth Sumac
Rhus glabra
Anacardiaceae · broadleaf deciduous shrub · native
Last updated
Data Coverage 2 of 6 dimensions
Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) is a broadleaf deciduous shrub or small tree in the Anacardiaceae family native to North America. It reaches 15 ft tall with a 9 ft spread (12 ft at 20 years) and grows in an erect, rhizomatous form, colonizing thickets on dry soil and waste ground. The coarse foliage turns red in fall.
Smooth sumac is hardy in zones 3a-8b and tolerates full sun with wet-tolerant drainage (pH 5.3-7.5) and low water needs, requiring a minimum 24-inch root depth. It is nitrogen-fixing and has weed potential through rhizomatous spread. The fruit has a high edibility rating (4/5). Possible skin rash is reported but unsubstantiated.
Quick Facts
Height
15 ft
Spread
9 ft
Growth Rate
Moderate
Light
Full Sun
Soil
Wet Tolerant
Water
Low
Hardiness
Zone Zones 3a–8b
Bloom Time
June
Fall Color
Red
Origin
Pacific Northwest native
Phenological Calendar
| Stage | Typical Window |
|---|---|
| Bud break BBCH 07 | Feb 15-Mar 15 |
| Leaf emergence BBCH 11 | Mar 1-Apr 1 |
| Bloom start BBCH 61 | Apr 1-Apr 30 |
| Bloom end / petal fall BBCH 69 | Apr 15-May 15 |
| Fruit/seed development BBCH 71 | Jun 1-Aug 31 |
| Fruit/seed maturity BBCH 85 | Sep 1-Nov 30 |
| Fall color / leaf senescence BBCH 93 | Oct 1-Nov 15 |
| Dormancy BBCH 97 | Nov 15-Feb 28 |