It was always my understanding that the greenish/white ones were the poisonous sumac while the red ones were the non-poisonous ones that people use for making tea. Better check a reference before picking.

The type I'm interested in is smooth sumac Rhus glabra. The flowers of this plant grow in clusters three to five inches long. Flowers are yellow (more a lime green) and bloom in June and July.

Once the flowers have died, fruits grow in their place. Smooth Sumac fruits are bright red berries. They grow in a cluster shaped like a pyramid.

Have any of you used the flowers or just the berries in the fall?

Patty