# shining sumac (*Rhus copallinum*) Shining sumac is a lovely shrub with shiny leaves that can turn bright red in the fall. It grows in groups and is great for attracting butterflies and birds to your garden. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 34 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Dwarf Sumac, Shiny Sumac ![shining sumac](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rhus_copallinum.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhus_copallinum.jpg) ## Appearance The shining sumac has glossy, dark green leaves with unique "wings" along the central stem. Its small, yellowish-green flowers form upright clusters, later turning into fuzzy, reddish-brown berry cones that stay on through winter. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Anacardiaceae - **Genus:** Rhus ## Interesting facts - In autumn, its leaves transform into an amazing display of fiery red and orange colors! - Its tart red berries can be steeped in water to make a refreshing, lemonade-like drink! - Look closely! Each leaf has little "wings" along its stem, making it easy to identify. - This plant is a "pioneer," often being one of the first to grow in disturbed or open land. ## Special abilities - **Soil Spreader:** Shining sumac can send out underground stems to quickly grow new plants, helping it colonize open areas. - **Drought Defender:** Its tough roots and leaves help it survive in dry, sandy, or poor soil where many other plants struggle. - **Winter Snack Shack:** This sumac produces bright red, tart berries that provide crucial food for birds when other sources are scarce. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-800 cm - **Spread:** 200-600 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — eats winter berries - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses on leaves - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits flowers for nectar ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless an adult says it's safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify shining sumac? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is shining sumac? 200-800 cm ### How wide does shining sumac spread? 200-600 cm ### How big are the flowers on shining sumac? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does shining sumac bloom? Summer ### Is shining sumac edible? Yes ### Is shining sumac toxic? None ### What is shining sumac's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arrowmont-school-of-arts-and-crafts) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Bainbridge Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bainbridge-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Calico Rock Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/calico-rock-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Camp Evans](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-evans) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site [View all places to see shining sumac](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/shining-sumac) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Shining Sumac: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shining-sumac)