Rhus Species, Fragrant Sumac

A native suckering shrub here sometimes planted in naturalistic landscapes. It spreads fairly quickly by suckering, and its low-growing c...Read Moreultivar 'Gro-Low' is sometimes used as a groundcover. In the wild, it's most often found on woodland edges.

This is a woody shrub, not a perennial. It's fairly nondescript, and is suitable for the background and not for specimen use. It's a good plant for stabilizing difficult sunny slopes, and tolerates dry infertile soils. Fairly good red fall color.

It likes sun and does not tolerate shade.

This species is hardy into Z3.

Some susceptible (allergic) people are said to develop a temporary skin rash on contact.

This species has a large native range from Texas into Nebraska to southern Wisconsin into southeast Ontario to Vermont down to northern F...Read Morelorida. Its red sumac fruit is loved by birds and small mammals and edible for humans. It is occasionally sold by regular large nurseries and by native plant nurseries in the East, Midwest, and South. It is occasionally found in landscapes, mostly ones designed by landscape architects or designers who know many plants; few homeowners know of this shrub. It is a good-looking shrub with shiny leaves and good fall color. It does ground sucker some, so it is not used for very refined landscapes. Its cultivar of 'Low-Gro' is planted a good amount as a groundcover.

I love this plant. I've had it 7 years and it's beautiful. No suckering as with some other Rhus' and the Fall color is a wonderful red.

Fragrant Sumac, Rhus aromatica is native to Texas and other States.