Sumac, Smooth, Bare Root

Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra)

Smooth Sumac is a vigorous, spreading native shrub known for its bold red fall foliage, upright clusters of crimson berries, and exceptional value to birds, pollinators, and restoration projects. Native to nearly all of the U.S. and parts of Canada, Rhus glabra thrives in poor soils, dry slopes, and disturbed areas—making it a pioneer species for regeneration. Its berries are rich in vitamin C and traditionally used in beverages and medicine, while its dense growth supports wildlife and stabilizes soil.

Key Characteristics

• Late-summer berries feed birds and people
  The upright pyramidal clusters of bright red berries ripen in late summer and persist into winter. They’re a high-value food source for robins, cedar waxwings, flickers, and game birds. The berries can also be steeped to make a tart, vitamin-rich drink often called "sumac lemonade."
• Supports pollinators with mid-summer blooms
  Small, greenish-yellow flowers bloom in early to midsummer, attracting a wide range of native bees and beneficial insects. The blooms are important for summer pollinator continuity when other resources may be scarce.
• Spectacular red fall foliage for native gardens
  Smooth Sumac puts on one of the most brilliant autumn displays of any native shrub, turning vibrant scarlet to crimson. It adds strong visual impact to hedgerows, meadows, and rewilded landscapes.
• Excellent for erosion control and tough sites
  With its fibrous, soil-binding roots and suckering growth habit, Smooth Sumac is ideal for stabilizing banks, restoring degraded land, and revegetating roadsides, old fields, and post-disturbance areas.
• Traditional uses in food and medicine
  Indigenous peoples used the berries to make drinks, tonics, and dyes. Medicinally, parts of the plant were traditionally used for cold and fever relief, as astringents, and in wound care. Its multi-use history makes it a valuable addition to permaculture systems.

Product Details

• Native range: Most of the U.S. (excluding deep Southeast) and southern Canada
• Plant life cycle: Deciduous Shrub
• Sun requirements: Full sun to light shade
• Soil requirements: Medium-dry to medium; tolerates poor, rocky, or disturbed soils
• Mature height: 6–15 feet
• Bloom time: Early to midsummer
• Bloom color: Greenish-yellow
• USDA Hardiness zones: 3–9

Smooth Sumac is a bold, adaptable native shrub with high ecological value. It feeds birds, supports pollinators, and brings dramatic beauty and soil stability to any regenerative planting.