The Shining Sumac Shrub (Rhus Copallina) is a very adaptable, large, colony-forming, deciduous shrub to small tree used in groups in the shrub border, as a large bank cover or in naturalizing areas. The shining dark green foliage turns a flaming red to red-purple in the fall. In addition, female plants produce terminal clusters of greenish-yellow flowers that mature into clusters of small, red hairy fruits in September and October. Bark is smooth, silvery gray to light brown with raised lenticels. Pollinated female flowers produce showy fruiting clusters (up to 8 inches long). Each cluster contains numerous hairy, berry-like fruit (drupes) which ripen in autumn, gradually turning maroon-brown as they persist through much of the winter. Fruit is attractive to wildlife. Older stems develop a peeling bark. An excellent plant for poor dry soils. This plant grows at a fast rate.