Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Smooth Sumac
Rhus glabra [C-value 1]
Cashew family (Anacardiaceae)
Blooms
mid-June - July
The native Smooth Sumac is common in our area. It prefers full to partial sun, moist to dry conditions, and soil containing loam or gravelly/rocky material. Habitats include prairies, edges of prairies, woodland borders, fence rows and roadsides. This shrub is usually 3-10' tall having a single trunk with several branches with alternate compound leaves, odd-pinnate with 9-31 leaflets up to 4½" long and 1" across, narrowly lance-shaped and toothed. The upper branches terminate in erect panicles of flowers that are up to 15" long and 9" across on 6" long stalks. Individual flowers are about 3/16" across with 5 yellowish green petals. The female flowers are replaced by drupes becoming mature in autumn, about 3/16" across and brilliant dark red fading to black by winter.
Smooth Sumac near Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve June 20, 2016
Smooth Sumac near Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve June 20, 2016
Smooth Sumac near Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve July 7, 2018
Smooth Sumac (deciduous) brilliant fall foliage near Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve October 23, 2017
Smooth Sumac fall foliage and drupes near Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve October 23, 2017
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