Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. Five species of Sumac, deciduous woody shrubs in the genus Rhus, are found across the State. Right now Rhus copalllinum, known as winged sumac or shining or dwarf sumac, is showing its attractive flower heads as I cross the Congaree and Wateree causeways on my way to Sumter. A creamy , greenish white now, these showy heads turn a handsome reddish brown in fall. Birds enjoy the seeds and also find shelter in the dense colonies this stoloniferous plant forms. Many moths use sumac leaves as their larval food source. A great soil stabilizer, especially for sandy soils, this plant which also has excellent drought tolerance, should be used more for wildlife plantings, as buffer strips bordering parking lots, and as an attractive and carefree choice for harsh, urban sites. If it outgrows its welcome, it can be bushhogged and will recover without trouble.
Winged Sumac is Great for Fighting Erosion of Sandy Soils
