Winged Sumac is distinguished by the distinctive winged rachis — a flat, leafy flange running between leaflets along the central leaf stem. Native to eastern and central North America, it forms shrubby thickets 5–15 feet tall with brilliant scarlet fall color. The small, red-hairy fruits provide important late-season and winter food for wildlife. It thrives in dry, open, often sandy soils where few competitors can establish.
Best time to see a Winged Sumac
The best time to see a Winged Sumac is July–October, when about 60% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 40,769 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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