It's definitely edible, if it really is R. glabra. I you have questions about it being mislabeled, I would check with the nursery where you bought it. I'm sure there are variegated versions out there.

Here is a link that might be useful: Smooth sumac fact sheet

first off its a shrub.. but who cares..

second.. if you are relying on the WWW for eatin food.. well.. good luck with that ...

i suppose you have some shrooms in the yard you are thinking about eating.. and will want an opinion .. w/o pic.. in the fungus forum ...

come on ... if you want to eat it.. get a professional opinion from someone who can actually ID the plant in person

ken

Just knowing that it is variegated doesn't tell you which species it is. Variegated forms happen when Mother Nature makes them happen - then man cultivates it and makes more.

pcan - Smooth Sumac is native to my area. It is most noticeable in the Fall with its fire engine red Fall color. We see it in the road banks often in huge colonies. It blooms the first week in July and attracts honeybees and many other kinds of insects. The female plants produce huge, red seedheads used by birds in Winter.
I've never heard of a variegated form.
My experience is that this is a great shrub for naturalizing and for wide, open spaces. It can grow in the poorest,dryest soil and is aggressive.

Most Sumac are supposed to be somewhat edible. The USDA plant guides should have a write up on Sumac that will go into what parts can be eaten. I have not tried any.
Both Smooth and Prairie Flame-leaf grow wild here. They are sometimes planted for their dependable fall leaf red color.
Smooth Sumac tends to grow into a "grove" from all the suckers.

Thanks eveyone for the information. Very helpful.

I found these pics online showing what the leaves look like. The nursery is very reputable and had two different types. The normal type with the rounder leaves and the one we purchase with the variegated leaves.

In googling I found the term "cutleaf" and the below photos. This is what mine looks like.

As far as it being a shrub, my nieghbor has one that looks identical to ours (same leaves). His is about 15-20 feet tall and wide. Looks like a small tree to me. ;)

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I have a VERY similar plant I purchased under the name "Tiger Eyes". To me it is an unusual growing shrub. Each year the foliage is further and further up the trunks. With some pruning it could probably be turned into "a Japanese Maple type tree".

Mine are what, five or so feet tall, perhaps four wide? They do sucker. Not crazy but I bet I have seen a dozen over two or three or four years. I have tried with poor results to separate and grow the suckers. No berries or flowers yet.

There are tinges of red in the stressed foliage giving me hints of EXCELLENT fall color. It just never develops though. Mine probably get six to eight hours of sun and are planted mid slope on my gentle hill.

I should add, mine more closely resemble the second picture with the pink in the foliage. They get lots of attention from visitors. Other folks seem to love them more than I do.

I will take a pic of mine tonight and post it. Thanks again guys!

Here is a couple pics of mine:

You can see how close it is to the pond which concerns me it may break through the liner. I have bamboo barrier I can place in between the pond and the tree if I need to.

Should this be a concern with smooth sumac trees?

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um, that doesn't look too good if trying to hold it together with tape

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Here is my R. glabra 'Laciniata' It is similar to R. typhina 'Laciniata' which is readily available in the trade.
As I found out today this shrub bleeds white latex when cut. No parts of the plant are poison. No parts of the leaf are variegated.
pcan needs to understand that this shrub is a spreading, colony-forming shrub, maybe it is single-stemmed now but it won't be for long. Is the crotch split?