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Shrubs

Rhus glabra

smooth sumach

A suckering shrub with smooth, upright shoots and leaves up to 45cm long with dark red stems and shiny, bluish-green leaflets, turning rich red in autumn. In summer bears dense, conical clusters of tiny, yellow-green flowers followed, on pollinated female plants, by spherical red berries

Other common names

smooth sumach
vinegar tree

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Anacardiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Suckering
Genus: Rhus can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs or trees with simple, pinnate or palmately-divided leaves often colouring brilliantly in autumn, and inconspicuous yellow flowers in spring or summer, followed by small, spherical red fruits in dense clusters
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to obtain best autumn colour. Suckering growth means that it has the potential to become a nuisance if not managed well

Propagation

Propagate by seed, or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Coastal
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 7

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus, coral spot and Verticillium wilt

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