Rhus glabraIndiana Native
Smooth Sumac

 Genus:
 Plant Type:
 Growth Forms:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flower Notes:
Yellow (Greenish yellow flowers on 6-10" long hairy panicles in June and July)
 Foliage Notes:
Multi-Colored (Yellow, orange, to scarlet fall foliage is often spectacular)
 Stem Notes:
Purple (glabrous, waxy)
 Fruit Notes:
Red (Crimson fruits are hairy pubescent and often last into spring; dioecious, so fruiting occurs only on females)
 Ultimate Height:
10-15 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
10-15 feet
 Bloom Times:
 Soil Water Requirements:
 Soil Notes:
Widely adapted to different soils
 Range:
Canada and Eastern United States
 Maintenance:
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves alternate, compound (pinnate), 12-24" long, 13-27 leaflets, each 2-5" long, serrated, pointed. Observe terminal large red fruit clusters. Rhus glabra can be distinguished from R. copallina by the toothed leaflets and un-winged rachis. R. typhina has very clubby pubescent (velvety) stems.

Additional Information

Large, club-like fruit clusters and rather coarse compound leaves make this a plant that can best be appreciated from a distance, and so it is at its best in large-scale plantings. Picturesque branches. Hard to kill this plant. Can be rejuvenated by cutting to ground in late winter. Plants are dioecious, so only females have the fruiting interest, but all plants are reliably colorful in fall foliage. Spreads rapidly by suckers.

11 Rhus glabra found

Building Map...

Loading...
= Heritage plant = Memorial plant
Number Accession ID Location
12013_00447*AHORTPARK
22013_00446*AHORTPARK
32013_00448*AHORTPARK
42023_00276*AHORTPARK
52023_00276*BHORTPARK
62023_00276*CHORTPARK
72023_00276*DHORTPARK
82023_00276*EHORTPARK
92023_00314*AHORTPARK
102023_00314*BHORTPARK
112023_00314*CHORTPARK

Other plants like this Rhus glabra (Smooth Sumac)

The Purdue Arboretum is a collaboration between the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Physical Facilities Grounds Department

Purdue Arboretum, 625 Agriculture Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
© 2025 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Integrity Statement | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by the Purdue Arboretum
Contact Purdue Arboretum at arboretum@purdue.edu for accessibility issues with this page | Accessibility Resources | Contact Us