There are two types of sumac; poison and regular sumac. How to tell the difference?

Question

We have poisoin sumac that grows everywhere in our yard. Or at least I think its poison sumac. I know there is just regular sumac that isn't poisonous. How do you tell the difference?

Answer 1

Meanolmaw is right she has all the information you need to know.

Poison Sumac has tiny sweet smelling flowers in the spring and is brightly covered with lovely red and yellow leaves in the fall, but remember, only Poison Sumac has cream colored berries.

Answer 2

First of all if you live in Pennsylvania or anywhere north of PA chances are you don't have poison sumac because it's very rare in that climate while staghorn (or regular) sumac grows very well there.  If you don't live in that area then take a look at the leaves.  staghorn sumac has jagged or toothed edges on the leaves while poison sumac leaves have a smooth straight edge.  In addition, the fruit on staghorn sumac is a tight cluster in a cone shape and poison sumac has a loose round shaped cluster.

Answer 3

Have your hubby rub up against it.  If its poison he will know it withing a few hours.

Answer 4

poison sumac........Flowers: June, July. Dioecious; yellow green, borne in long, narrow, axillary panicles crowded **near the ends of the branches........ The whitish green fruits **hang from the plant,((( non-poisonous varieties of sumac have fruits that are red and upright.))) ... prefers to grow in wet, swampy conditions......

http://www.cedarbog.org/images/bloomers_...

http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/tove.h...

sumac....this is staghorn sumac..

http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/photos/oth...

longer thinner leaves and the flower stands UP... berries are RED and clustered and still stand UP

http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/med...

http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/wp-c...

the color of smooth or staghorn sumac in fall makes it worth chasing the extra sprouts!!....