Shining Winged Sumac (Rhus Copallinum) – 1 Gallon Pot

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Shining Winged Sumac is a highly attractive and easy-to-grow North American native plant that can be grown as a large shrub or small tree. Allowed to grow naturally it can gradually spread by suckers to form a colony or natural hedge in sunny to partially shaded landscape or woodland borders, or lower branches can be removed to form a highly attractive single or multi stemmed small tree. Its compound pinnate leaves up to 12 inches long with 9 to 21 elongated leaflets bring a lush tropical look and feel to the landscape. The dark green leaves turn to brilliant, flaming shades of red during the fall. The central stem of the compound leaves has a distinctive wing between the leaflets, hence the common name. Large and showy Astilbe-like clusters of yellow flowers appear in abundance from mid summer to late summer or early fall and are followed by equally abundant fruit clusters packed with small, mauve colored fruits that turn to deep red on female plants. A great choice for butterfly and beneficial pollinator gardens, naturalized gardens, meadows and prairies, native plant gardens and the Xeriscape (low water needs).

Native Americans made good use of the chemical defenses that evolved to deter herbivores. A rinse made from boiled berries was applied to stop bleeding after childbirth. Tea prepared from leaves was used to treat asthma and diarrhea. Roots were boiled to extract an antiseptic applied to wounds and ulcers. Juice extracted from roots was believed to cure warts. Tea prepared from green twigs was used to treat tuberculosis. Ute basket weavers preferred the supple twigs of fragrant sumac for ceremonial baskets. A surprising range of pigments were extracted from sumac for dyeing baskets and blankets. The Navajo used fermented berries to create an orange-brown dye, while a different extraction from berries produced red. Crushed twigs and leaves yielded a black dye when mixed with ochre mineral and the resin of pinyon pine. Roots produced a yellow dye and a light-yellow dye could be made from the pulverized pulp of stems. Tannins extracted from leaves produce a brown dye.

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