Winged Sumac: A Native Gem for Low-Maintenance Landscapes
If you’re looking for a native shrub that practically takes care of itself while providing spectacular fall color and wildlife benefits, let me introduce you to winged sumac (Rhus copallinum). Also known as shining sumac, this undemanding native deserves a spot in more gardens across its extensive range.
What Makes Winged Sumac Special?
Winged sumac gets its common name from the distinctive wings or flattened extensions along its leaf stems (rachis) – a unique feature that makes identification easy. This perennial shrub typically grows 6-8 feet tall and wide, creating dense colonies through underground rhizomes. Don’t worry though – it’s not invasive, just naturally social!
The real showstopper comes in autumn when the compound leaves transform into brilliant shades of orange, red, and scarlet. Even after the leaves drop, the clusters of fuzzy red fruits persist through winter, adding texture and color to the dormant landscape.
Where Does Winged Sumac Call Home?
This native beauty has an impressive range, naturally occurring from southern Canada down to Florida and from Maine west to Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. You’ll find it growing wild in Alabama, Arkansas, Ontario, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Why Wildlife (and You) Will Love It
Winged sumac is like a neighborhood diner for local wildlife. The small yellowish-green flowers that appear in spring attract various pollinators including native bees, flies, and small wasps. Later, the red fruit clusters provide food for birds and small mammals, making up 5-10% of the diet for various species including:
- Large animals like deer
- Small mammals such as squirrels and chipmunks
- Terrestrial birds including quail and wild turkeys
While animals don’t typically use it for cover, the food value alone makes it a valuable addition to any wildlife-friendly garden.
Perfect Spots for Planting
Winged sumac shines in naturalized landscapes, native plant gardens, and wildlife habitats. It’s particularly useful for:
- Erosion control on slopes and banks
- Prairie and meadow restorations
- Low-maintenance landscape areas
- Creating autumn color displays
- Filling difficult-to-plant areas
Since it’s classified as Obligate Upland in most regions (meaning it almost never occurs in wetlands), save this one for your drier sites.
Growing Conditions and Care
Here’s where winged sumac really wins points – it’s incredibly adaptable and low-maintenance. This tough shrub thrives in USDA hardiness zones 4-9 and tolerates a wide range of conditions:
- Sunlight: Full sun (shade intolerant)
- Soil: Adaptable to coarse, medium, or fine-textured soils
- pH: 5.3 to 7.5
- Water: Drought tolerant once established; low moisture requirements
- Temperature: Hardy to -28°F
The shrub has a moderate growth rate and can handle temperatures from -28°F up to areas receiving 28-60 inches of annual precipitation. Its deep roots (minimum 14 inches) help it access water during dry spells.
Planting and Care Tips
Winged sumac is refreshingly easy to establish and maintain:
- When to plant: Spring or fall work well
- Spacing: Plant 700-2,700 per acre depending on desired density
- Propagation: Available as container plants, bare root specimens, or grow from seed (57,000 seeds per pound!)
- Fertilizer: Low fertility requirements – often none needed
- Maintenance: Minimal care required once established
The plant has excellent resprout ability if damaged and can spread naturally through rhizomes, creating attractive colonies over time. If you need to control its spread, simply remove unwanted shoots in late winter.
A Few Things to Consider
While winged sumac is generally well-behaved, keep these points in mind:
- It will form colonies through underground rhizomes
- Not suitable for formal hedging (low hedge tolerance)
- Requires full sun – won’t tolerate shade
- Not fire resistant, so avoid planting in fire-prone areas
The Bottom Line
Winged sumac offers the perfect combination of native authenticity, wildlife value, and low-maintenance beauty. Whether you’re creating a wildlife habitat, adding autumn interest, or simply want a tough shrub that can handle neglect, this native gem delivers. Plus, with its widespread availability and easy propagation, there’s really no excuse not to give this North American native a try in your landscape.
Your local wildlife will thank you, your autumn garden will dazzle, and you’ll have more time to enjoy both instead of fussing with high-maintenance plants. Now that’s what I call a win-win situation!
