Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)

Common along roadways throughout most of Minnesota, smooth sumac is a harbinger of autumn as well as a bright spot in winter. The spiky leaves of this tall shrub are among the first to turn red in the fall, and the red berries add a welcome splash of color against the snowy landscape.

Appearance. Smooth sumac is a gangly shrub that often grows in colonies of dozens to hundreds of stems. Though typically 10 to 15 feet tall, it can grow up to 20 feet in height under favorable conditions. Skinny, serrated leaflets extend from reddish leaf stems, creating a palm-frond look. Yellowish-green flowers produce deep red fruit toward the end of the growing season.

Range and Distribution. The only shrub native to all 48 contiguous states, smooth sumac has long thrived along the edges of forests, streams, and lakes in the place we now call Minnesota. Today it’s often seen growing on roadsides. Though smooth sumac prefers sunlight and well-drained soil, this ubiquitous plant tolerates a wide variety of conditions.

Natural History. Smooth sumac spreads to new locations by seed. Once it’s established, it forms colonies by growing new stems from shallow underground roots. As the colony spreads, old stems die out and new ones sprout. A deciduous shrub, this common plant grows new leaves each spring. In late June or early July, lentil-size flowers sprout in clusters on the ends of stems. Butterflies and other insects visit the flowers, spreading pollen from one to another. In late summer to early fall, the blossoms morph into fuzzy red berries holding one seed each. Leaves turn red in late summer and early autumn, then drop, leaving clusters of berries behind for deer, birds, and other animals to eat in winter.

Human Uses. People have used smooth sumac for centuries for medicinal and cultural purposes. The berries, which contain abundant vitamin C, are sometimes used to make tea or other beverages. The berries and bark have been used to make red and yellow dyes, respectively.

Status. A fast-growing, widely distributed plant that can thrive under a variety of conditions and has few native pests, smooth sumac is neither threatened nor endangered.

Other Sumacs. Smooth sumac has a few relatives in Minnesota. Staghorn sumac (Rhus hirta) is similar in shape and growth pattern but has hairy fruits and stems. Itch-producing poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) is not closely related but looks vaguely similar with frondlike (though not serrated) leaves and clusters of white rather than red berries.