Winged Sumac (Rhus copallina)

Winged Sumac

(Rhus copallina)

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Copyright Notice: Photo by: homeredwardprice | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 | Uploader: File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Rhus_copallina_(homeredwardprice)_001.jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description ={{en|1=Location taken: Merrifield Garden Center, Merrifield VA USA. Names: Rudbeckia triloba L. (provisionally ), brown eyed coneflower, brown eyed Susan, Brown-Eyed Susan, Brown-Eyed-Susan, Browneyed

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Rhus copallina, commonly known as Winged Sumac, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to open woodlands, forest edges, and fields across the Eastern United States. It typically grows to 3.5–5.5 meters (11–18 ft) tall with a similar spread and features a rounded crown. The plant is characterized by its distinctive "winged" leafstalks and compound leaves that turn a brilliant orange-red in the fall, making it highly valued for its ornamental qualities. Winged Sumac is often used in natural and informal landscapes, urban planting, and as a border shrub. It is also effective for erosion control and can be used in buffer strips around parking lots or for median strip plantings on highways.

Winged Sumac thrives in a variety of soil types, including clay, loam, sand, slightly alkaline, acidic, and well-drained soils. It is highly drought-tolerant and can grow in full sun to part shade. The plant’s tiny, greenish-yellow flowers bloom in summer and are followed by showy red berry clusters that persist into winter, providing food for wildlife. While it has a high tolerance for salt spray and can be used in coastal plantings, gardeners should be aware of its underground runners that can lead to spreading. Care should be taken to avoid damage to the thin bark, and pruning may be necessary to maintain clearance for traffic or pedestrians. It is also suitable for container planting and land reclamation projects.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Tree, Shrub
Height: 10-20 feet
Width: 10-20 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Yellow, Green
Flowering Season: Summer, Spring
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Low
Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Erosion Control, Fire Resistant, Hummingbird Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Open woodlands, forest edges, and fields across the Eastern United States

Other Names

Common Names: Black Sumac, Dwarf Sumac, Mountain Sumac, Shining Sumac, Upland Sumac, Korall-Sumach, Sumac Brillant, Flameleaf Sumac

Scientific Names: , Rhus copallina, Rhus copallinum var. latifolia, Rhus copallinum f. frondosa, Schmaltzia copallina, Rhus copallinum f. crispa, Rhus copallinum f. copallinum, Rhus copallinum f. integrifolia, Rhus copallinum f. latialata, Rhus copallinum f. serrata

GBIF Accepted Name: Rhus copallina L.