Tag: Smooth sumac

Approximately 250 species of sumac exist globally, and they follow a simple yet crucial identification rule: red-berried varieties are edible, while those with white berries are poisonous. This guide helps determine which sumac berries are edible by examining key differences.

While many people associate the name 'sumac' with the toxic variety, approximately 250 species of sumac exist, and knowing which type of sumac is edible is a simple matter of looking for red berries, not white. Safe species are common and provide a delicious, tangy flavor for culinary uses.

The berries of the smooth sumac, *Rhus glabra*, contain high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants, making them a traditional food source for centuries. Foraging for this native North American shrub is a rewarding dietary adventure, but caution and correct identification are paramount when considering, **is *rhus glabra* edible?**