One key to proper identification is studying the shrub’s individual plant parts:
Leaf (color and shape)BerriesBarkStem (color)
You increase your odds of identification if you know what all of these plant parts look like, rather than knowing the appearance of just one. A second key to successful identification is learning what the plant looks like from season to season, so you can recognize it when you encounter it during various months. In addition to the practical benefit of knowing what poison sumac looks like in fall, it is also simply enjoyable to view its fall foliage. Its autumn display is every bit as good as the more familiar ones we appreciate from the great fall color trees. Poison sumac has leaves made up of 7 to 13 leaflets. While the exact number varies, it is always an odd number. That’s because, while most of the leaflets form matching pairs (one across from the other), there’s always one lone leaflet at the tip of the compound leaf, which gives it the shape of a feather.
Yellow and pinkRed and pinkRed, pink, and yellow
In all three cases, a tinge of green may remain to add yet another color. One of the easiest ways to distinguish between the two is by examining the berries or seeds. Nonpoisonous sumac forms its seeds in a red, fuzzy seed tuft that offers some ornamental value. This seed-tuft looks feathery from a distance and is soft to the touch. The seeds are tightly packed within the seed tuft. Wild birds eat the seeds in winter. If you need to work with poison sumac in your garden, always wear protective clothing: long sleeves and pants, rubber gloves, and boots. Thoroughly hose down your boots and gloves after you’re done in the garden, and immediately wash your clothes. It’s ideal to take a shower as well just in case there’s some resin on your body.
