Smooth Sumac is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 4 through 10 and shrugs off deer. Its mid spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.
Zones
4-10
pH Range
5.3-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Smooth Sumac on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether smooth sumac actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score smooth sumac against your land's real conditions.
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What Smooth Sumac is
Smooth Sumac grows as a perennial and reaches around 15 feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in mid spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Smooth Sumac
Smooth Sumac grows in USDA zones 4 through 10. Smooth Sumac does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.3 to 7.5. It needs a growing season of at least 135 frost-free days and about 500 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
4-10
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.3 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-33°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
15 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
135+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set smooth sumac in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Smooth Sumac prefers pH 5.3 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — smooth sumac isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Smooth Sumac offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Smooth Sumac thrives
Smooth Sumac is hardy across USDA zones 4 through 10. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 4–10·Where Smooth Sumac growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Smooth Sumac can grow in these states:
See if Smooth Sumac will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether smooth sumac actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Smooth Sumac in my zone?
Smooth Sumac grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 10 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Smooth Sumac?
Set smooth sumac out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Smooth Sumac need?
Smooth Sumac needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Smooth Sumac need?
Smooth Sumac prefers soil pH 5.3 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Smooth Sumac attract pollinators?
Yes — smooth sumac's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Smooth Sumac safe for pets?
Smooth Sumac is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.