North Carolina Wildflowers, Shrubs, & Trees

Anacardiaceae > Rhus (sumac)

Common and widespread in NC, the flowers often attract bees, wasps, and butterflies.

Flower detail closeup.

Fruiting clusters may be upright or flopped over. Fruits have hairs with malic acid which can be made into a sour drink (like lemonade) or may reportedly be nibbled right off the plant. Native Americans also used the fruits to make dyes.

Note the winged rachis of the compound leaf.

Leaves may turn brilliant red in fall.

Bark detail of small individual.

Found in disturbed areas statewide (although rare in the coastal plain).

The pale cream-colored flowers attract many species of insects, including various bees and butterflies.

Fruits become bright red.

Note short hairs on fruits.

Leaves are pinnately compound with glaoucus midribs.

Stems are hairless and glaucous and often purplish.

Uncommon to locally common in the western half of NC, Staghorn Sumac can be abundant along roadsides and clearings from Wisconsin through New England.

Fruit close-up

Hairy stems and petioles distinguish this species from the species above.

Immature fruit cluster

Older stems are bumpy with prominent lenticels.

A federally endangered species that is found in NC in a few counties near the "fall line" in the sandhills and piedmont.

Uncommon in NC in the piedmont and mountains, Fragrant Sumac grows on fairly dry, often mafic to calcareous soils. Despite resembling poison ivy and poison oak, Fragrant Sumac is non-toxic and does not normally produce an irritating rash.

Cuneate leaflet bases all converging to a single point helps distinguish this taxon from members of Toxicodendron.