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Smooth Sumac

About Smooth Sumac

Smooth Sumac is a relatively rare houseplant 🌿 that is a fun challenge to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in long-lasting, direct light ☀️ and should be less than 1 foot from a window.

Smooth Sumac likes soil that is well draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Smooth Sumac belongs to the Rhus genus, and is native to the United States and Canada.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Rhus glabra

Genus

Rhus

Family

Anacardiaceae

Order

Sapindales

Also known as

White sumac, Upland sumac and Scarlet sumac

How to care for Smooth Sumac

💦 Water

How often to water your Smooth Sumac

Smooth Sumac needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Smooth Sumac in your home

Smooth Sumac love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Smooth Sumac does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Smooth Sumac in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Smooth Sumac

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Smooth Sumac: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Smooth Sumac after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Smooth Sumac can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!

How to Grow Smooth Sumac →

Benefits of Growing Smooth Sumac →

Common Smooth Sumac Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Smooth Sumac →

💦 Water Needs

Smooth Sumac prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Smooth Sumac Water Frequency →

Smooth Sumac Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Smooth Sumac requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Smooth Sumac Light Requirements →

Smooth Sumac Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Smooth Sumac is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

Smooth Sumac does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Smooth Sumac →

Best Pots for Smooth Sumac →

When and How to Successfully Repot Smooth Sumac →

What Are Healthy Smooth Sumac Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Smooth Sumac should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Smooth Sumac →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Smooth Sumac will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

Smooth Sumac Lifecycle →

Smooth Sumac Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Smooth Sumac →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Smooth Sumac can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Smooth Sumac Temperature Tolerance →

Smooth Sumac Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Smooth Sumac →

When to Plant Smooth Sumac →

How to Plant Smooth Sumac →

Where to Plant Smooth Sumac →

Winter Care for Smooth Sumac →

Best Companion Plants for Smooth Sumac →

Is Smooth Sumac a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

How to Propagate Smooth Sumac →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Smooth Sumac, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.