Woody > Rhus > Rhus glabra > Rhus glabra
Rhus glabra
Smooth Sumac
Origin: Native to North America.
Mike's
Opinion
"
An unassuming, low growing, rapid ground-cover shrub. Dark green, clean foliage adds to its purpose through the season. A workhorse of a plant, but of limited ornamental value.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Anacardiaceae |
| Genus |
| Rhus |
| Species |
| glabra |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 3 - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 3a-6b |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -25 to -30 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -15 to -30 |
| Height |
| 3-5 m |
| Spread |
| 3-5 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Pinnate leaves and large red fruit, the foliage grows high on the plant forming a 'canopy'. |
| Landscape |
| Good for massing, screening and has good winter form. |
| Cultivation |
| Prefers well drained acidic soils, it will tolerate very dry soil conditions, and thrives in full sun. |
| Shape |
| Round suckering shrub which will continue to spread forming large colonies. |
| ID Characteristic |
| Stout thick herbaceous stems, tomentose shoots, pinnate leaves on the top 1/3 of the plant. It has distinctive red berries forming a panicle at the apical meristems which remain throughout the winter. |
| Pests |
| May suffer from verticillium wilt, powdery mildew, leaf spot, scale insects, aphids and caterpillar infestations. |
| Habitat |
| Native to forest edges and meadows across the U.S and from Quebec to southern British Columbia. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Fairly smooth greyish-brown bark. The younger shoots are herbaceous; they are purple and green with a slight pubescence. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Pubescent, round, ovoid, leaf scar almost completely encircling bud. The bud is .5 cm and hugs closely to the shoot. |
| Leaf Description |
| Lanceolate serrate leaves in alternate pinnate form, 11-31 leaflets 5-15 cm in length and 1-3 cm wide, medium-dark green leaves turning yellow, orange, red and purple in the autumn. |
| Flower Description |
| An inflorescence of tiny greenish-white flowers on 15-25 cm panicles. |
| Fruit Description |
| Small edible crimson berries with short hairs that form a panicle at the shoot apical merstem, these remain throughout the winter. |
| Colour Description |
| Greyish-brown bark, medium-dark leaves that turn yellow, orange, red, purple, greenish-white inflorescence, crimson red berries. |
| Texture Description |
| Pubescent buds and young shoots, smooth bark and smooth leaf surface. Overall smooth pubescent texture. |
| Notable Specimens |
| American national co-champions are 8.5 x and 38.2 x 5.8 m in Walla Walla, Washington State, United States of America |
| Propagation |
| Most commonly propagated by root division. Acid scarify seeds for 2 hours then stratify them for 30 days at 5°C before sowing them 1-2 cm deep. |
References
Generally available in many areas within its hardiness zone.
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