Species specifics: Sumacs

Fast facts about sumacs

There are over 14 sumac species that are native to the United States, but four are commonly found encroaching on pastures which Corteva Range & Pasture specialists regularly help producers fight: smooth sumac, winged sumac, staghorn sumac and fragrant sumac.
Known for its showy fall foliage and red fruit, sumacs are deciduous shrubs that can significantly reduce the growth of grasses and other favorable forages in pastures or hayfields.
Commonly found in recently disturbed soils or pastures recovering from overgrazing, certain species of sumacs are more often found in different parts of the United States than others.

What to look for

There are over 14 sumac species native to the United States. Some of the most common sumacs that our Range & Pasture Specialists work with producers to control are smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), winged sumac (Rhus copallinum), staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) and fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) - all of which are capable of heavy encroachment in pastures and hayfields.

Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)

Also known as red sumac, white sumac, scarlet sumac, western sumac, Rocky Mountain sumac or common sumac, is a deciduous, colony-forming shrub that typically grows 5 to 15 feetd tall and tends to spread in dense thickets via underground rhizomes and root systems. Leaves are long and compounded ranging 12 to 24 inches long with 11 to 31 feather toothed leaflets. Common in most sumac species, leaves of a smooth sumac turn bright red in the fall. A notable difference in this species from other sumacs are the hairless twigs and stems. Fruits emerge at the top of the plant’s canopy in late summer as upright, cone-shaped clusters of deep red and fuzzy berries that persist into winter.

Winged sumac (Rhus copallinum)

Also known as flameleaf sumac, winged sumac, shining sumac, prairie sumac or southern sumac or dwarf sumac, is a colony-forming deciduous shrub that averages 7 to 15 feet in height. Compounded leaves look similar to that of smooth sumac from afar, however, the leaves are more glossy and less toothed on the leaflet edges, and the green leafstalk looks more like a wing connecting the leaflets, alluding to one of its common names. Fruits of a winged sumac are rough, up to ¼ inch in size, sticky and ruby-red that mature in September – a tart, lemon-like flavored berry used in teas or beverages such as sumac-ade.

Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)

Or velvet sumac, is a large deciduous shrub typically growing 10 to 25 feet and resembles more of a tree-like growth pattern, though still capable of forming colonies. Young stems and branches are densely covered in soft, velvety hairs, like deer antlers in velvet. Leaves are similar to smooth sumac with long, compound leaves that turn red in the fall. Fruits are also like smooth sumac in general appearance and time of emergence but tend to be larger and fuzzier.

Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica)

Is a low-growing, creeping deciduous shrub ranging 2 to 6 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide that spreads laterally by root suckers, although plants can spread wider than 10 feet over time. Typically, fragrant sumacs do not form colonies. Leaves are small and three-lobed, similar to an oak leaf or a poison ivy leaf, and when crushed, give off a spicy or citrusy scent. As the season progresses, fragrant sumac has a variety of showy colors and characteristics: Bright yellow flowers emerge in the spring that yield to classic deep green foliage throughout the summer, with small, red, hairy berries from June to August and eventually transitioning into red to purple foliage as frosts hit in the fall.

Where these sumacs are found

All four species of sumacs are native to the United States and tend to spread in recently disturbed soils. However, some of these species tend to appear in certain parts of the country over the others:

Smooth sumac is commonly found throughout the Central and eastern United States.
Winged sumac prefers warm climates in sandy and well drained soils making the Southeast, Southwest and southern Great Plains preferred habitats.
Staghorn sumac favors the northern, cool and somewhat humid areas of the northeast, Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions.
Fragrant sumac is relatively adaptable and is common across the the Rocky Mountain and Midwest states from South Dakota south to Texas, and eastward across the rest of the contiguous United States.

How to treat them

All of these sumacs can develop thickets or colonies that can drastically hinder the growth of other more favorable forages and grasses if left unmanaged. Luckily, Corteva Range & Pasture has a lineup of different solutions that can help producers fight back against encroaching sumacs.

For individual plant foliar application, apply 1 to 2 gallons per acre of Surmount® herbicide in late spring when leaves are mature.

For broadcast treatments, spray DuraCor® herbicide at 16 to 20 fluid ounces per acre with 16 fluid ounces per acre of Remedy® or Remedy® Ultra herbicide. Alternatively, Surmount herbicide at 80 to 96 fluid ounces per acre is a good option for broadcast applications. Broadcast treatments should be made in mid-summer such as July through early August.

Surmount® is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Surmount is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. Under normal field conditions DuraCor® is non-volatile. DuraCor has no grazing or haying restrictions for any class of livestock, including lactating dairy cows, horses (including lactating mares) and meat animals prior to slaughter. Label precautions apply to forage treated with DuraCor to manure and urine from animals that have consumed treated forage. DuraCor is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Except for lactating dairy animals, there are no grazing restrictions following application of this product. State restrictions on the sale and use of Remedy® apply. Consult the label before purchase or use for full details. When using Remedy® Ultra, always read and follow label directions. Always read and follow label directions.