How much sun does Black sumac need?

Black sumac grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Black sumac bloom?

Black sumac blooms in July, August, and September.

Where is Black sumac native?

Black sumac (Rhus copallinum) is native to AL, AR, AZ, CT and 33 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What pollinators does Black sumac attract?

Black sumac draws bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies.

Is Black sumac HOA-friendly?

Black sumac is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

Black sumac

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Rhus copallinum

Last reviewed: August 2026

Toxicity unknown

Black sumac (Rhus copallinum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

72"–216" H × 72"–180" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CT and 33 more states

Pollinators

bees, wasps, flies, butterflies

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 450 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Central Great Plains Cross Timbers Edwards Plateau Texas Blackland Prairies East Central Texas Plains Western Gulf Coastal Plain South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Central Irregular Plains Piedmont Western Corn Belt Plains Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Central Corn Belt Plains Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Huron/Erie Lake Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Allegheny Plateau Northern Forests Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Central Appalachians Western Allegheny Plateau Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Southern Coastal Plain Southern Florida Coastal Plain Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

A deciduous shrub or small tree known for its winged leaf stems and brilliant fall color, ranging from orange to deep red. Its compound leaves turn shining red in autumn, giving rise to the common name. Forms dense thickets by root suckering and produces clusters of small greenish-yellow flowers in late summer, followed by red, berry-like fruit clusters that persist into winter.

In an HOA neighborhood

Black sumac is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 2 out of 5.

Works well in: naturalized borders, wildlife hedgerows, slope stabilization.

Spreads by root suckers and can form dense colonies if not maintained
May read as weedy to some reviewers because of its thicket-forming habit

Wildlife value

The late-summer flowers draw a wide range of pollinating insects including bees, wasps, and flies. Its dense red fruit clusters, called drupes, persist through winter and provide an important food source for many bird species when other food is scarce.

Common questions

How much sun does Black sumac need?: Black sumac grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Black sumac bloom?: Black sumac blooms in July, August, and September.
Where is Black sumac native?: Black sumac (Rhus copallinum) is native to AL, AR, AZ, CT and 33 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Black sumac attract?: Black sumac draws bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies.
Is Black sumac HOA-friendly?: Black sumac is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Ready to grow Black sumac? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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