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Staghorn sumac identification: leaves, bark, fruit and twigs
Staghorn sumac, Rhus typhina, is a native tree in Pennsylvania. How to recognize it by its leaves, bark, fruit and twigs, and how to tell it from look-alikes.
Alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 16 to 24 inches long with 11 to 31 toothed leaflets on a fuzzy stem. Bark: Fuzzy for several years, then smooth gray-brown with many dots. Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
How to identify staghorn sumac
| Leaf type | Alternate, compound leaves |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Compound leaves 16 to 24 inches long with 11 to 31 toothed leaflets on a fuzzy stem. |
| Bark | Fuzzy for several years, then smooth gray-brown with many dots. |
| Fruit | Upright, cone-shaped clusters of small fuzzy red berries that last through winter. |
| Twigs | Stout, very fuzzy brown twigs that look like deer antlers in velvet. |
| Size and shape | Shrub or small tree up to about 25 feet with a wide, very open crown. |
From the Virginia Tech Dendrology fact sheet, in our own words.
Is staghorn sumac native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists staghorn sumac as native to Pennsylvania.
See all 140 trees, with a 4-question identifier, in our Pennsylvania tree identification guide.
Trees that look like staghorn sumac
| Tree | Its leaves |
|---|---|
| Tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima | Alternate, compound leaves. Huge compound leaves 1 to 3 feet long with 11 to 41 leaflets. |
Compare the leaves first, then the bark, fruit and twigs on each tree’s page.
Questions
How do you identify staghorn sumac?
Look for alternate, compound leaves. Compound leaves 16 to 24 inches long with 11 to 31 toothed leaflets on a fuzzy stem. Bark: Fuzzy for several years, then smooth gray-brown with many dots.
Is staghorn sumac native to Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) lists staghorn sumac as native to Pennsylvania.
How big does staghorn sumac get?
Shrub or small tree up to about 25 feet with a wide, very open crown.
How can you tell staghorn sumac in winter?
Check the twigs and bark. Twigs: Stout, very fuzzy brown twigs that look like deer antlers in velvet. Bark: Fuzzy for several years, then smooth gray-brown with many dots.
What tree looks like staghorn sumac?
Tree-of-heaven. Compare the leaves first.
Sources: Virginia Tech Dendrology (Rhus typhina fact sheet); Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, PA Vascular Plant List (native or introduced status). Checked Nov. 14, 2026.
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