This is growing on a hillside by my house. The hillside is reforesting itself after being cleared by the builder. Is this American Mountain Ash or something else? Thank you.
Hi Gloria,
this is the winged sumac, Rhus copallinum, a rather common shrub that colonizes disturbed areas. It is not poisonous, it is not poison sumac, though it is related to it. It can be quite attractive with its brilliant red leaves in the fall. It is also native. Not at all a bad plant, but probably not too long lived. Our area is too low in elevation for mountain ash, in general. It does not like the heat. I hope this helps!
Sincerely,
Steve Hill – SCNPS