Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) is a hardy native shrub that brings bold seasonal color and wildlife value with very little fuss. You get long, pinnate leaves with a fine, ferny look through summer, then a vivid orange-to-red fall show. After flowering, female plants develop upright clusters of red drupes that can persist into winter, adding color and feeding birds.

Expect a mature size around 9-15 feet tall and about as wide, with a naturally open, spreading form. It spreads by root suckers and can form colonies, which makes it a strong candidate for slopes, embankments, and naturalized edges where you want quick cover and help holding soil in place. In smaller landscapes, plan for its spreading habit and remove unwanted shoots as they appear.

Plant it in full sun to part shade. Full sun usually brings out the best fall color. It adapts to many soil types as long as drainage is decent, and once established it tolerates dry conditions well. Water regularly the first season, then back off as roots settle in; avoid consistently wet soils.

Routine care is simple: keep competing weeds down while it establishes, and prune as needed to shape or to rejuvenate older stems. It is tolerant of black walnut conditions and is generally a low-input choice for restoration-style plantings and wildlife-friendly screens where it has room to spread.

Specifications

• Cold hardiness zone: 3-9 (-40 degrees F) - Contact your local extension to confirm hardiness if you are in a fringe zone (we cannot guarantee hardiness in fringe zones)
• Light: Full sun   Part sun
• Growth rate: Moderate
• Mature height: 108-180"
• Spread: 108-180"
• Tolerant of: Drought, Rabbits
• Attracts: Birds, Butterflies
• Grows Under Trees: Conifer - No, Walnut - Yes, Other - No
• Good for erosion control: Yes
• Native to the U.S.: Yes
• Good for slopes: Yes

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