How can I get rid of poison sumac?

If you spot poison sumac in your yard, you can remove it by diligently pulling the plant and its roots.Or, use a selective herbicide to keep nearby plants and water features safe. It may take time to completely eradicate it from your yard.

How fast do poison sumac and staghorn sumac grow and spread?

Both poison sumac and staghorn sumac plants are aggressive spreaders, and if left unchecked, they form dense colonies.

Can I use staghorn sumac as cut greenery?

You can safely use staghorn sumac's colorful and feathery leaves as greenery in cut flower bouquets, especially in the fall when leaves turn brilliant red .

Poison Sumac vs. Staghorn Sumac: The Major Differences

Identify the two to avoid getting a rash

By

David Beaulieu

Updated on 05/09/25

Reviewed by

Kathleen Miller

Fact checked by

Nikki Elmwood

Staghorn sumac shrub with tall branches forming wall of green, red and yellow leaves — The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

It's easy to confuse poison sumac with non-poisonous staghorn sumac. Both plants are tall shrubs with colorful fall foliage, though one is toxic and one is not. Key identifying features set them apart. Poison sumac has white berries and smooth bark, while staghorn sumac has red berries and fuzzy-looking bark, among other differences.

Learning a little about each plant's respective habitats and the differences in their leaves, twigs, and berries will help you arrive at an identification and allow you to enjoy a walk in the woods with greater peace of mind.

Family Ties Between Poison Sumac and Staghorn Sumac

Poison sumac and staghorn sumac both belong to the Anacardiaceae family, but they belong to different genera. Poison sumac is known as Toxicodendron vernix, and staghorn sumac is classified as Rhus typhina.

How to Tell Poison Sumac and Staghorn Sumac Apart

These two plants are found in different habitats and do not look the same.

Habitats

Poison sumac prefers very wet areas, such as swamps. It is also native to regions in the United States, such as New England.

Staghorn sumac grows along stretches of roadsides where the soil is dry. It spreads and forms massive colonies. It's also hard to miss staghorn sumac if you visit New England in autumn to view the fall foliage.

Berries

Poison sumac's berries:

Groups of berries that are not fused
Droop from small stems
Flattish in shape
Mature to an off-white color in the fall

Staghorn sumac berries:

Packed tightly together in soft, cone-shaped tufts
Tufts grow upright
Red color

Leaves and Twigs

When poison sumac and staghorn sumac do not have berries, you can tell the difference between the plants by their leaves, as well.

Both poison sumac and staghorn sumac have compound leaves, made up of individual leaflets. Happily, their leaves differ in a few ways, so you should have no trouble telling them apart. Even in winter (when there are no leaves), you can tell the two apart by inspecting their twigs:

Poison sumac leaflets have smooth margins; staghorn sumac's are toothed.
A poison sumac leaf has fewer than 13 leaflets. A staghorn sumac leaf has at least nine leaflets, up to 31.
Poison sumac twigs are smooth; staghorn sumac twigs are covered in tiny hairs.

FAQ

How can I get rid of poison sumac?

If you spot poison sumac in your yard, you can remove it by diligently pulling the plant and its roots.Or, use a selective herbicide to keep nearby plants and water features safe. It may take time to completely eradicate it from your yard.
How fast do poison sumac and staghorn sumac grow and spread?

Both poison sumac and staghorn sumac plants are aggressive spreaders, and if left unchecked, they form dense colonies.
Can I use staghorn sumac as cut greenery?

You can safely use staghorn sumac's colorful and feathery leaves as greenery in cut flower bouquets, especially in the fall when leaves turn brilliant red.