Silverberry (Wolf Willow) vs Smooth Sumac - TreeTime.ca

Silverberry (Wolf Willow) vs Smooth Sumac

Elaeagnus commutata

Rhus glabra

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Silverberry (Wolf Willow)
Smooth Sumac

Silverberry (also known as Wolf Willow) is a common native North American shrub. This beautiful ornamental plant has characteristic silver leaves and fragrant yellow flowers.

Its silver berries remain on the branches through the winter. Silverberry is cold hardy and has some ability as a nitrogen fixer. It can grow on dry to moist sandy/gravel soils. This plant is very low maintenance.

Smooth Sumac is an excellent shrub for both its ornamental appeal and tolerance of difficult planting sites. You'll love the attractive pyramidal spikes of hairy, red berries that emerge on female plants and the fern-like foliage that covers both male and female varieties.

Ensure you give Smooth Sumac enough space to spread out due to its high suckering nature. While not ideal for small, urban yards, this shrub will make a stunning border along a woodland edge or roadside.

Note:These plants typically reach maturity and make their sex easily known (females producing fruit) in their 3rd or 4th year of growth. Our seedlings are too young to identify their sex.

Silverberry (Wolf Willow) Quick Facts

Smooth Sumac Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 3a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: high
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: silvery leaves
Foliage: long, thin
Fall colour: scarlet red
Flowers: yellow
Berries: silver, edible
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, YT, NT, NU
Native to: BC, SK, MB, ON
Other Names: american silverberry, silver berry, wolf willow