Spend any amount of time driving through the Minnesota River Valley and you can't miss it. If your looking for a native plant that evokes the tropics, smooth sumac is it! A member of the cashew family (Anacardiaceae) - it belongs to a group of plants that is comprised of mostly tropical and subtropical plants. One word of caution, it can be invasive, but you would end up with a really cool clump of sumac. It grows 6-20 feet tall and forms a thicket with a canopy effect. In reality you could call it a Minnesota palm tree!

If this does not have the tropics written on it I must be blind!

Close-up of the fruit:

The pinnate leaves and the canopy effect are what make this plant so tropical looking.

Shot of the canopy:

Up-shot of the Canopy:

Shot of the Canopy:

Botanical Name:

Where to buy this plant:

Updated October 22, 2010