Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) is a fast-spreading native shrub valued for erosion control, wildlife habitat, and stunning fall color. This 5-pack provides 500 seeds per packet—enough for large-scale restoration or hedgerow projects. The crimson seed heads persist through winter, feeding songbirds when other food is scarce.
There's something honest about smooth sumac—it thrives where fussier plants fail, paints hillsides crimson each autumn, and keeps birds fed all winter. This 5-pack of 500 seeds per packet gives you serious planting stock for erosion-prone slopes, naturalized borders, or wildlife corridors. Expect vigorous colonial growth and zero maintenance once established.
Key Benefits
- 5 packs × 500 seeds each for large restoration projects
- Native North American shrub (Rhus glabra)
- Brilliant scarlet fall foliage
- Persistent red seed heads feed birds through winter
- Excellent for erosion control on slopes
- Spreads by root suckers—plan for containment if needed
How to Grow
- Scarify seeds lightly with sandpaper to break seed coat
- Cold stratify 30–60 days in moist sand (refrigerator)
- Sow 1/4 inch deep in well-draining soil after last frost
- Keep moist until germination (2–4 weeks)
- Transplant seedlings when 6–8 inches tall
Specifications
Quantity: 5 packs × 500 seeds. Variety: Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra). Mature height: 10–15 ft. Spread: Colonial via suckers. Fall color: Scarlet-crimson. Hardiness: Zones 3–9. Sun: Full sun to part shade.
What's Included
- 5 seed packets (500 seeds each)
- Germination guide with scarification tips
Care & Storage
Store seeds cool and dry in original packaging. Scarification and cold stratification improve germination rates. Once established, sumac requires no care—prune suckers if spread is unwanted.
Key Terms
- Rhus glabra — Smooth Sumac; native shrub with compound leaves and crimson fall color
- Scarification — Nicking or sanding hard seed coats to allow water absorption
- Root suckers — New stems arising from spreading root systems
Important Notice
- Gardeners wanting tidy, non-spreading specimens
- Those with limited space (sumac colonizes)
- People allergic to Anacardiaceae family plants
A slope of sumac in October—that wave of crimson against a steel-gray sky is as honest as autumn gets.