Rhus glabra #3 (Smooth Sumac)

Smooth Sumac is a large, colonizing shrub native to vast swathes of North America. It is an incredibly tough pioneer plant, one that is capable of inhabiting inhospitable sites and preparing them for the succession of larger trees that will grow taller and eventually shade out the sumacs. They are best used in marginal zones of the landscape, at the edge between forest and openness, or surrounded by barriers such as parking lots or roads, and are especially useful for erosion control on slopes and embankments. They can even be grown in large pots to contain their spread. They are not fussy plants and will grow in a variety of situations, although they do require close to full sun. This is definitely a plant that can overtake gardens and managed areas and it is not recommended for these types of locations. It excels at naturalizing and covering ground rapidly, and can help outcompete and block the establishment of non-native, invasive species such as the look-alike Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima).

Smooth Sumac gets its common name from the lack of brown, bristly hairs along its stems that its close relative Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) has. The plant is a smaller version of Staghorn Sumac, but just as beautiful of a densely spreading shrub with bright green, hanging leaflets that are reminiscent of palm fronds. The spectacular fall color is the star of the show, with brilliantly blazing yellow, orange and scarlet. These plants are dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers occur on separate individuals. A male and a female are required for fruit production. The flowers occur in upright, greenish-yellow panicles in June and last for 2-3 weeks. Pollinated female flowers give way to upright clusters of velvety, ruby-red fruits (drupes) in tight, pyramidal clusters which often remain from the end of summer through winter. They are distinctive, attractive and edible, just like Staghorn Sumac berries. Poison Sumac is a member of the same family and can be confused with Smooth Sumac, although it only grows in very swampy places and has ivory white berries, not red. Beware, and use good judgment when touching or consuming any unfamiliar plant!

Sumacs have a high ecological importance for wildlife through the interconnected food web. 98 species* of migrating and overwintering birds rely on the fruits as a high-fat food source. They are host to at least 58 species* of Lepidoptera, including the Red-banded Hairstreak, Luna Moth and Regal Moth. The flowers provide a rich source of mid-summer nectar for pollinators, and the slender stems act as tunnel nesting sites for small carpenter bees, but causes no significant damage to the trees.

Sources:
Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines by William Cullina
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael A. Dirr
*Midwestern Native Shrubs and Trees by Charlotte Adelman & Bernard L. Schwartz
Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs by Steven Foster and James A. Duke
Missouri Botanical Garden
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Illinois Wildflowers
Photo Credits:
Fall Color: Joshua Mayer from Madison, WI, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Winter Hedge: Plant Image Library from Boston, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fruit Detail: Joshua Mayer from Madison, WI, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons