shining sumac

plant

Also known as: Rhus copallinum, dwarf sumac, winged sumac

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Last updated

June 11, 2026

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"Shining sumac" is a term for dwarf sumac. Sumacs are a genus of shrubs and small trees in the cashew family, native to temperate and subtropical regions. These plants have been historically used for dyes, medicines, and beverages, with some species' dried fruits used as a spice in Middle Eastern cuisine.12

Sumac plants typically have compound leaves arranged in spirals and bear small flowers with five petals. Their fruits are red drupes clustered together. Many sumacs can spread through rhizomes. The shining sumac (Rhus copallinum) is noted for its glossy leaves and showy reddish fruits. It is important to distinguish true sumacs from poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix), a toxic shrub whose clear sap can cause severe skin irritation.23

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sumac
The smaller sumacs are the shining, winged, or dwarf sumac (R. copallinum) and the lemon, or fragrant, sumac (R. aromatica). The former is often grown for its shiny leaves, the leaflets of which are connected by ribs along the axis, and showy reddish fruits. The fragrant sumac has three-parted leaves,…
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The smaller sumacs are the shining, winged, or dwarf sumac (R. copallinum) and the lemon, or fragrant, sumac (R. aromatica). The former is often grown for its shiny leaves, the leaflets of which are connected by ribs along the axis, and showy reddish fruits. The fragrant sumac has three-parted leaves,…
Read More