Shrub
Winged Sumac
Rhus copallinum ยท genus Rhus
Native shrub with pinnately compound leaves bearing distinctive leafy 'wings' along the rachis and reddish fruit clusters; excellent pollinator and wildlife plant.
About
Description
Pinnately compound leaves with distinctive leafy 'wings' running along the rachis; reddish fruit clusters.
Safety Cautions
Positive identification is essential; do not confuse true Rhus sumacs with unrelated poison sumac.
Edible with caution. Sumac fruits have beverage/food traditions with proper preparation.
Traditional use. Tannins and dyes have cultural uses.
Excellent pollinator plant; fruit supports birds and other wildlife; useful early-successional native.
Pollinator plant; fruit for birds and wildlife.
Fruit late summer/fall
Edge/clearing/early succession
Portal 33 edge/clearing
Sumac fruits have longstanding beverage/food traditions; tannins and dyes also have cultural uses.
Confirm not poison sumac.
Educational use only. Identification, edibility, and traditional medicinal knowledge is shared for learning. Always obtain positive identification before eating, harvesting, or medicinally using any plant or fungi. This Atlas is not medical advice.