How do you know if a plant in your garden is poison sumac?

1. Look for

poison sumac in very moist or flooded soils such as marshes or

wooded swamps. If the surrounding area is relatively dry, you can

be sure that the plant you are examining is not poison sumac.

2. Measure the

plant. Fully mature, its height will range between 6 and 20 feet (2

- 6 m

3. Look for

branches all along the trunk. Poison sumac can be considered either

a woody shrub or a small tree. It produces branches at all heights

along its trunk, resulting in an overall form that is full and

rounded

4. Look for a

pinnate leaf structure. This means that each stem contains 2

parallel rows of leaves on either side with a single leaf at the

end. These pinnate structures will contain between 7 and 13

leaves

5. Look at the

oval or oblong shape of the leaves, tapering to a fine point at the

tip. The leaf edges will have a very subtle undulation. They should

also have an upward orientation, with the axis angled towards the

tip of the stem.

6. Measure the

length of the leaves. Leaves typically range between 2 and 4 inches

(5 - 10 cm) in length.

7. Look for

bright green or bright red leaves. Poison sumac leaves are bright

green throughout the warmer months, turning to a bright red in the

fall before falling away in the winter.

8. Look for a

smooth, matte appearance and texture on the leaves. The leaves are

usually hairless on both sides, but sometimes have a fuzzy layer of

very small hairs on the underside.

9. Observe the

stems and branches of the plant. The stems of the poison sumac are

hairless and smooth. They typically have a dark brown color,

flecked with even darker spots.

10. Look for

white or greenish-white berries hanging in clusters. The poison

sumac produces berries that are very similar to those produced by

poison ivy or poison oak. The berries are quite small. They appear

in spring and typically last through the beginning of winter, when

they will dry up and fall away.

11. Look for

small, greenish-yellow flowers. Poison sumac flowers are, like the

fruit, very similar to those of poison ivy and poison oak.

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