Ontario Trees & Shrubs website

Poison Sumac
Toxicodendron vernix

Other common names: Poison Dogwood, Poison Elderberry, Swamp Sumac

Family: Cashew Family (Anacardiaceae)

Group: Poison Ivy & Poison Sumac, Sumacs

Distinctive features: Shrub; Sumac, grows in wet areas. Hard white berries.

Similar species:
  •   Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) - grows in dry habitat.

  •   Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) - grows in dry habitat.


Flowers: Spring;  Green/Brown;  5 parts (petals)

Leaves: Alternate, Compound, Entire;  Many leaflets. Poisonous to touch (cause rash). Turn brilliant red in autumn.

Habitat: Wet Areas;  Wet areas. This helps todistinguish it from other Sumacs.

Poisonous: Poisonous to touch. Causes a Poison Ivy-like rash.

Books: Trees in Canada: 228    Shrubs of Ontario: 281    Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 320   

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Uncommon. Seldom seen due to its habitat.

See Also:
  •   Poison Ivy Cures


Photographs: 161 photographs available, of which 17 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

This is a photo of the top of a small Poison Sumac shrub. It shows the upward orientation of the leaflets, a distinctive feature.

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

The leaves just starting to come out in the spring. Like other sumacs, it leafs out much later in the spring than many other trees and shrubs.

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

A view from above of a smaller Poison Sumac shrub showing the leaves.

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

Close-up view of its compound leaf.

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

A cluster of leaves and developing flowers. Note the sumac-like "hang" of this branch (it comes into the photo from the upper right corner).

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

This young Poison Sumac shows how the leaflets often grow at an upward angle.

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

The leaves turn brilliant red in the fall. Very pretty!

**But don't be tempted to collect them to add to your Thanksgiving bouquets!

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

Close-up view of the bark.

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

Poison Sumac pith.

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

Close-up photo of the flowers starting to bloom.

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

Here are newly formed, unripe Poison Sumac berries. Later, as they mature, they will hang down.

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

Poison Sumac berries are hard and white, and hang from thin stalks in clusters. They persist into the winter, gradually falling as winter progresses. Birds and squirrels like to eat them.

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

A closer view of the berries. These were clipped from the tree by a squirrel or bird.

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

Here's what the berry stalks look like in later winter after all the berries have either been eaten or fallen off.

Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

For comparison, here is a photo of Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) (NOT poisonous). Note the toothed (not smooth) leaflets. Staghorn Sumac is very common, and is not poisonous to touch. It grows in dry soils, so you will never find Staghorn Sumac growing side by side with Poison Sumac.


Range map for Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)