Botanical atlas

Smooth Sumac

Rhus glabra

Long before lemons made their way into North American kitchens, many Native American nations, including the Ojibwe, Iroquois, and various Plains peoples, steeped the ripe, fuzzy red berry clusters of smooth sumac in cool water to make a tart, refreshing drink often called Indian lemonade. This infusion, rich in vitamin C, was traditionally used to ease sore throats, calm fevers, and refresh travelers during the heat of late summer. The bark, leaves, and berries were also brewed into astringent washes for wounds, skin irritation, and mouth sores, and the tannin-rich leaves and bark found use in tanning hides and dyeing. Because it colored so much of daily life, from thirst-quencher to medicine cabinet to craft, smooth sumac earned a steady place in the folk traditions of the communities who grew up alongside its fencerows and forest edges.

Safety.

Smooth sumac is not the same plant as poison sumac, which grows in wet ground, has whitish berries, and causes a severe rash, so confirm identification before harvesting. Don't gather berry clusters after rain, since the tart flavor washes away and can leave mold behind, and those allergic to cashews or mangoes may also react to sumac.