smooth sumac

Plant Type

Small Tree/Large Shrub (10-25 ft)

Life Cycle

Perennial

Typical Size

9-15 ft. tall
9-15 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Deer, Drought

Inolerant of

Poorly Drained Soil

Propagation

By seed, By division

Plant Propagation Notes

Germination rates benefit from an acid scarification for a few hours followed by a moist cold stratification for a month.

Plant Planting Notes

Plant in an area where spreading into a colony isn’t an issue.

Plants/Diseases

Minor susceptibility to leafspot, rust, scale, aphids, and mites.

Wildlife Benefits

Nectar/pollen source for pollinating insects, Host plant for butterfly larvae, Fruit/seeds for birds

Leaves

Leaves alternate, compound with 11-31 leaflets that are lanceolate with serrate margins.

Flowers

Tiny green to white star-shaped flowers on panicles.

Fruit

Dark red drupes in conical clusters.

Bark

Brown smooth bark covered in a white wax coating.

Toxicity

No known toxicity.

Edibility

Young shoots and fruits are edible. Fruits are used to make a drink similar to lemonade.

Ethnobotanical Use

Fruit is boiled to make tea for a number of historical uses. Roots have been used to make a yellow dye.

USDA Hardiness Zones

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Light Exposure

Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture

Medium, Moist

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acidic (less than 6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

Thrives in disturbed areas with moist soils, but will also grow in woodlands.

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Secure (G5)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Rare in the South Carolina coastal plain and sandhills. Common in the piedmont. Uncommon in the mountains.