Rhus copallinum
shining sumac
Overview
Rhus copallinum is a deciduous shrub or small tree reaching 7-20 feet (2-6 m) tall and spreading by root suckers into broad colonies often wider than tall. The compound leaves are 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) long with 7-21 glossy leaflets, and the leaf axis between the leaflets carries flat green wings that name the plant. Foliage is dark green and lustrous in summer and turns deep red to maroon in fall. Dense cone-shaped clusters of small greenish-yellow flowers, 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) long, open at the branch tips in midsummer; plants are usually dioecious. Female plants develop tight clusters of small, dark red, hairy fruits that persist into winter. The species colonizes old fields, roadsides, and clearings, forming thickets from spreading roots. Growth is rapid but individual stems are short-lived, dying back as the colony renews itself from suckers. It tolerates poor, dry soil but casts only light shade and produces abundant suckers that spread beyond where it is planted.
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, from Maine and Ontario south to Florida and west to Texas and the eastern Great Plains. Grows in dry, open habitats including old fields, woodland edges, rocky slopes, and roadsides from sea level to about 4,500 feet (1,370 m).Suggested Uses
Planted on dry banks, in naturalistic and wildlife plantings, and for erosion control on poor soils, where its suckering forms a mass. The fall color and winter fruit suit large, informal areas at 6-10 foot (1.8-3 m) spacing. The suckering habit limits its use in small or formal gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height7' - 20'
Width/Spread10' - 20'
Bloom Information
Flowers in midsummer, July to August, with dense cone-shaped clusters of small greenish-yellow flowers. Male and female flowers usually occur on separate plants and are insect-pollinated over two to three weeks. Fruit ripens dark red in fall and holds on female plants into winter.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun on dry to average, well-drained soils and tolerates poor, sandy, and rocky ground. It is drought-tolerant once established and needs little care. Roots sucker freely and form spreading colonies, so it can move well beyond its original spot in open ground. It is short-lived as individual stems but persists as a clone through suckering. The light, open canopy casts little shade, and the plant is mostly free of serious pests.Pruning
Pruned in late winter while dormant to remove dead stems and shape the colony. Root suckers are cut or mown where the spread is unwanted. Cutting stems to the ground prompts vigorous resprouting from the roots.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter