Rhus glabra L.

Usually a sparingly branched shrub, but sometimes to 6 m, vigorously colonial; petioles and younger branches glabrous and somewhat glaucous; lfls 11–31, lanceolate to narrowly oblong, 5–10 cm, acuminate, commonly serrate, much paler beneath; infl terminal, often 2 dm; frs 4–5 mm, somewhat flattened, bright red, densely beset with thick, minute red hairs 0.2 mm. Abundant in upland sites, old fields, roadsides, and margins of woods; N. Engl. and s. Que. to B.C., s. to n. Fla., Tex., and Mex. June, July. Forms with bipinnate lvs occur. A hybrid with no. 2 [Rhus typhina L.] has been called R. ×borealis (Britton) Greene.

It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It grows especially on sandy soils. It grows up to about 2,000 m altitude in SE regions of the USA. It suits hardiness zones 2-9.

The berries are eaten. They can be dried. They are used to make a sour drink. The fruit are bruised in water, then the liquid strained through a cloth and sugar added. The raw young shoots are eaten as a salad. The peeled roots are eaten raw.

Plants can be grown by seeds or cuttings.