# smooth sumac (*Rhus glabra*) Smooth sumac is a tall shrub with bright green leaves that turn red in the fall. It grows in clusters and can be found in sunny places, making it a beautiful sight in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 19 - **Habitat:** Open fields ![smooth sumac](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rhus_glabra.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhus_glabra.jpg) ## Appearance The smooth sumac is a deciduous shrub with smooth, hairless stems and pinnately compound leaves. It has upright, conical clusters of fuzzy red berries and vibrant orange-red fall foliage that truly stands out. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Anacardiaceae - **Genus:** Rhus ## Interesting facts - Its name 'sumac' might come from an ancient word meaning 'red', for its fiery fall leaves! - Native Americans used sumac parts for medicine, food, and even dyes for clothing! - Unlike its poisonous cousin, smooth sumac is totally safe and a wild edible! - You can find tiny, tart crystals on its berries, making them taste like natural sour candy! ## Special abilities - **Root Spreader:** Smooth sumac can spread by underground roots, forming dense thickets that help it quickly regrow after a fire. - **Drought Master:** Smooth sumac has deep roots, allowing it to survive and thrive even in dry, rocky soils where other plants struggle. - **Winter Feast:** Smooth sumac has dense clusters of fuzzy red berries, providing a crucial food source for birds during winter months. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-500 cm - **Spread:** 100-250 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early 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*) — Feasts on tart sumac berries, especially in winter. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses sumac leaves and twigs, particularly when food is scarce. - **Pollinates:** European Honeybee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits small sumac flowers to collect nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — One of many native bees that pollinate smooth sumac flowers. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [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. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [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. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Avoid eating any berries or plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify smooth 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 smooth sumac? 200-500 cm ### How wide does smooth sumac spread? 100-250 cm ### How big are the flowers on smooth sumac? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does smooth sumac bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is smooth sumac edible? Yes ### Is smooth sumac toxic? None ### What is smooth sumac's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Alabama City Wall Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alabama-city-wall-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Gadsden Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gadsden-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gibraltar-rock-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Haskell-Baker Wetlands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haskell-baker-wetlands) — Kansas, US · Nature Reserve - [South Mountain Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-mountain-reservation) — New Jersey, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see smooth sumac](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/smooth-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: [Smooth Sumac: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/smooth-sumac)