Winged Sumac

Scientific Name: Rhus copallinum L.


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Rosidae / Sapindales / Anacardiaceae / Rhus L./ Rhus copallinum L.

Winged Sumac
General Information
Usda SymbolRHCO
GroupDicot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsShrubTree,
Native LocationsRHCO

Plant Guide

Use a soil moisture meter to monitor the soil moisture where Winged Sumac is planted.

Fact Sheet

Alternate Names

flameleaf sumac, dwarf sumac

Uses

Sumac serves primarily as a winter emergency food for wildlife. Ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and about 300 species of songbirds include sumac fruit in their diet. It is also known to be important only in the winter diets of ruffed grouse and the sharp-tailed grouse. Fox squirrels and cottontail rabbits eat the sumac bark. White-tail deer like the fruit and stems. Sumac also makes good ornamental plantings and hedges because of the brilliant red fall foliage. It is best used on drastically disturbed sites where pioneer species are desirable.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Description

Winged sumac is a native, deciduous, large shrub that rarely exceeds 10 feet. It has alternate, compound leaves, 16-24 inches long, with a winged leafstalk. The leaflets are narrowed or rounded at the base and sharply pointed at the tip with finely serrated margins. The leaflets are dark green and smooth above, and pale beneath, except along the midrib. Compact clusters of greenish-yellow flowers bloom from July to September. Fruits mature later in the fall. The fruiting head is a compact cluster of round, red, hairy fruits called drupes. Each drupe measures ¼ inch in diameter and contains one seed. Each cluster of drupes may contain 100 to 700 seeds. Fruit is produced on plants 3 to 4 years old. Because most populations of sumac have male and female flowers on separate plants, only the female plants produce seed. Occasionally, plants are found which have both male and female flowers. The germination of sumac seeds is enhanced by their passage through the digestive system of rabbits, ring-necked pheasants, and quail. The presence of fire also encourages increased germination. There are about 60,000 seeds per pound.

Adaptation and Distribution

Distribution

Distribution

Winged sumac is found throughout the eastern United States. While sumacs generally prefer fertile, upland sites they also tolerate a wide variety of conditions. All are tolerant of slightly acid soil conditions and textures ranging from coarse to fine. Typical growing sites include open fields and roadsides, fence rows, railroad rights-of-way, and burned areas. Sumacs are not highly shade tolerate and are considered early successional species. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Establishment

One year old nursery grown seedlings are normally used for planting large areas, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Winged Sumac., Once established, stands will spread from the root sprouts, The lateral root system is extensive and spread outward three or

http://plants,usda,gov/java/largeImage?imageID=rhco_001_avd,tif more feet a year, This sprouting is encouraged by cutting or fire injury, The colonies appear to lose vigor in about 15 years,

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Temperature, Minimum (°F)-28
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Anaerobic ToleranceMedium
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Drought ToleranceMedium
Fertility RequirementLow
Fire ToleranceHigh
Frost Free Days, Minimum140
Hedge ToleranceLow
Moisture UseLow
pH, Maximum7.5
pH, Minimum5.3
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim2700
Planting Density per Acre, Minim700
Precipitation, Maximum60
Precipitation, Minimum28
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)14
Salinity ToleranceNone
Shade ToleranceIntolerant


Morphology/Physiology

BloatNone
ToxicityNone
Resprout AbilityYes
Shape and OrientationErect
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
C:N RatioHigh
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousYes
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorYellow
Flower ConspicuousNo
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage TextureCoarse
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousYes
Nitrogen FixationNone
Low Growing GrassNo
LifespanModerate
Leaf RetentionNo
Known AllelopathNo
Height, Mature (feet)8.0
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee8
Growth RateModerate
Growth FormRhizomatous
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown


Reproduction

Vegetative Spread RateRapid
Small GrainNo
Seedling VigorHigh
Seed Spread RateSlow
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Seed per Pound57000
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Fruit/Seed PersistenceYes
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Bloom PeriodMid Spring
Propagated by CuttingsNo


Suitability/Use

Veneer ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Protein PotentialLow
Post ProductNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo

Winged Sumac

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