How to Identify Poison Sumac (with Pictures)

"Entire" Leaflets

The edge, or margin, of poison sumac's leaflet is considered "entire" in plant-identification terminology, and it displays a midrib of a lighter color. A leaf margin that is entire is smooth; it lacks the "teeth" that the leaf edge of a Roger's flower (Rodgersia) has, for example. 

Pinnately Compound Leaves

The shape of poison sumac leaves is described by botanists as a "pinnately compound." "Pinnate" means resembling a feather; "compound" means that, instead of one, unified structure, a plant's leaf is really composed of multiple leaflets joined by stems.

Poison sumac has leaves made up of 7 to 13 leaflets. While the exact number varies, it is always an odd number. That's because, while most of the leaflets form matching pairs (one across from the other), there's always one lone leaflet at the tip of the compound leaf, which gives it the shape of a feather.

Red Stems

The stems of poison sumac leaves further help us to identify the plant. The bright red color of the stems is one of the first things you'd want to look for in the spring to distinguish the shrub from nonpoisonous varieties of sumac. 

Spring and Summer Berries

The berries of poison sumac start out green in spring and remain that color for much of the summer. They grow in clusters that are quite distinct from the berry clusters of nonpoisonous sumacs (Rhus typhina, for example), in terms of color, shape, and texture.

Oddly Shaped Berries

One distinguishing feature of the berries of poison sumac is that they aren't perfectly round. Although toxic to the touch for humans, poison sumac berries are not toxic to birds. Many birds, including quail, treat the berries as a food source in winter.

Fall Berries

The foliage of poison sumac shrub changes its color in fall, as do the berries. Like poison ivy, the color of poison sumac's mature berry is whitish. The fact that the berry color of these two noxious weeds is so unusual makes it another distinguishing feature.

Orange Fall Foliage

The fall foliage of poison sumac is magnificent, especially because the leaves don't all turn the same color at the same time. This makes for some beautiful combinations. When all of the leaves finally do become the same color, that color can be orange, yellow, or red. 

Yellow Fall Foliage

Poison sumac with yellow fall foliage can rival that of birch trees.

Red Fall Foliage

The most striking single color poison sumac's fall foliage can become is red, which has a brightness and crispness that rivals the fall foliage of red maple trees, albeit on a smaller scale.

Mixed Fall Foliage

When the autumn leaves of poison sumac have mixed colors, possible combinations include:

• Yellow and pink
• Red and pink
• Red, pink, and yellow

In all three cases, a tinge of green may remain to add yet another color.

New Bark

Poison sumac grows to be 6 to 25 feet high. The new bark on the branches is relatively smooth. If you learn how to identify the plant by its bark, then you will be able to avoid coming into contact with poison sumac in winter (after it has lost its leaves).

Old Bark

The old bark of poison sumac is much rougher in texture than the newer bark.

A Harmless Relative

Not all sumacs are poisonous. Most sumac shrubs are quite harmless (nonpoisonous) and potentially desirable landscaping elements, which is another reason why you should identify poison sumac properly. There is no reason to pass up the great fall color of nonpoisonous sumac simply because they have "sumac" in their common name.  

One of the easiest ways to distinguish between the two is by examining the berries or seeds. Nonpoisonous sumac forms its seeds in a red, fuzzy seed tuft that offers some ornamental value. This seed-tuft looks feathery from a distance and is soft to the touch. The seeds are tightly packed within the seed tuft. Wild birds eat the seeds in winter.