Scientific Family
Anacardiaceae
Synonyms
Rhus calophylla Greene, Rhus glabra L. var. occidentalis Torr.
Other common names
common sumac
scarlet sumac
hybrid sumac
Plant type
Trees
Riparian
Yes
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Similar species
Rhus typhina, Rhus copallina, Ailanthus altissima, Toxicodendron vernix
A large shrub to small tree with short, crooked, leaning trunks and picturesque branches. Has a wide spreading, open crown.
Thicket-forming shrubs or small trees; bark dark gray; opposite or alternate, odd pinnately compound leaves, 11 to 31 leaflets, dark green above, paler beneath; small, pale yellow flowers in elongated clusters. Fruit pods, dark red, convex on both sides.
Height
To 20 feet
Width
To 20 feet
Habitat
Habitat description
Found in rich soils in oak and ponderosa pine woodlands, in canyons and riparian zones, often forming thickets.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
8000
Leaves
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Deciduous
Leaflets are dark green and smooth above, paler beneath, turning bright red in fall. Odd (unpaired terminal leaflet) pinnately compound, to 12 inches long, with up to 31 lance-shaped leaflets to 4 inches long.
Flowers
Flower color
Pale yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
August
Compact terminal clusters to 8 inches long. Clusters are made up of tiny, 5 petaled flowers, to 1/8 inch wide. Petals pale yellow, sepals green.
Flower clusters
Elongated
Fruit
Fruit color
Red
Fruit type
Pod
Flowers are followed by bright red, hairy, somewhat rounded pods in erect, pyramidal clusters. Fruits mature from August to September and persist through the winter.