Winged Sumac Plant Care

Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum) belongs to the Anacardiaceae family within the Rhus genus. Winged Sumac is native to eastern North America. Winged Sumac is also known as Shining Sumac, Flameleaf Sumac.

Winged Sumac displays an upright, spreading shrub or small tree growth habit, reaching up to 15 ft tall with a spread of approximately 10 ft. Winged Sumac produces small clusters of greenish-yellow flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Winged Sumac every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Winged Sumac thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Rhus copallinum tolerates temperatures of 50–90°F. Winged Sumac prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter like compost or peat moss. Good drainage is essential for Winged Sumac to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Winged Sumac every 8 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter like compost or peat moss. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Winged Sumac is suited to USDA Zone 5a – 9b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Winged Sumac can spread to about 10 ft (3 m) and reach about 15 ft (5 m) tall. Space plants about 10 ft (3 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Winged Sumac while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Winged Sumac is hardy down to USDA zone 5a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Winged Sumac can be propagated through seeds, root cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to fragrant sumac plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Winged Sumac is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, caterpillars. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Winged Sumac grows outdoors in USDA Zone 5a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 5a. Winged Sumac is native to eastern North America.