Rhus copallinum ~ Shining Sumac, Winged Sumac

Rhus copallinum ~ Shining Sumac, Winged SumacShining Sumac is a native spreading deciduous shrub with shiny untoothed pinnate foliage that turns flame red in fall. The plants are dioecious, with tiny greenish yellow flowers blooming in pyramidal panicles in late spring to early summer. Female flowers are followed by tight clusters of hairy maroon brown berries that persist into winter. Best performance with dry to medium well drained acidic soils. Rhus copallinum is a host plant for the Red

Shining Sumac is a native spreading deciduous shrub with shiny untoothed pinnate foliage that turns flame red in fall.  The plants are dioecious, with tiny greenish-yellow flowers blooming in pyramidal panicles in late spring to early summer.  Female flowers are followed by tight clusters of hairy maroon-brown berries that persist into winter.  Best performance with dry to medium well-drained acidic soils. 

Rhus copallinum is a host plant for the Red-Banded Hairstreak and Luna Moth.  Learn more about planting for butterflies with Georgia natives with this brochure.

MAINTENANCE NEEDS:  High maintenance plant.  Tolerant of most soils, except poorly drained ones.  No serious pests or diseases, but some susceptibility to leaf spot, rust, scale, aphids and mites.   Can spread aggressively with root suckers and colonize.

LANDSCAPE USES:  Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Naturalized Areas, Woodland Garden, Rock Garden, Foundation Plantings, and containers. 

COMPANION PLANTS: Aster, Blue Mist Spirea, Coneflower

IMAGES:  Photo by Wendy Cutler, 20120927_UBCBG_RhusCopallinum_Cutler_P1330366, (2) Photo by Homer Edward Price, Winged-Sumac, (3) Photo by Bob, Sumac, (4) Photo by sonnia hill, Rhus copallinum, (5) Photo by Doug McGrady, Rhus copallinum (winged sumac), Prudence Island, Bristol, RI, (6) Photo by Katja Schulz, Shining Sumac

*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.