Fragrant Sumac, Aromatic Sumac, Lemon Sumac, Polecat Bush
Noted for its aromatic foliage, attractive berries, and glorious fall colors, Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac) is a dense, sprawling, deciduous shrub with lower branches that turn up at the tips. Native to North America, it is dioecious with separate male and female plants. The male plants produce yellow catkins, while the female plants boast clusters of tiny yellow flowers in spring. They bloom at the tips of velvety twigs before the foliage emerges. The flowers are a nectar source for bees and butterflies. The pollinated female flowers are followed by small clusters of hairy, red berries in late summer, which may persist through fall and winter. They provide food for birds and small mammals when other foods are scarce or unavailable. The lush foliage of trifoliate, coarsely toothed, blue-green leaves turns attractive shades of yellow, orange, purple, and red in fall. The leaves and twigs are fragrant when crushed. Cold-hardy, easy to grow, pest and disease-resistant, and drought-tolerant, Rhus aromatica is great for erosion control because of its strong root development. It also makes a thick ground cover, is useful in shrub borders, and looks best when planted in drifts.
Fragrant Sumac belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, also known as the cashew family. This family includes economically important, ornamental, and sometimes toxic plants:
| Hardiness |
2 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 8 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 10 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Anacardiaceae |
| Genus | Rhus |
| Common names | Fragrant Sumac, Sumac |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 2' - 6' (60cm - 180cm) |
| Spread | 6' - 10' (180cm - 3m) |
| Spacing | 72" - 120" (180cm - 3m) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | United States, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Salt, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil, Clay Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Ground Covers |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
| Hardiness |
2 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 8 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 10 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Anacardiaceae |
| Genus | Rhus |
| Common names | Fragrant Sumac, Sumac |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 2' - 6' (60cm - 180cm) |
| Spread | 6' - 10' (180cm - 3m) |
| Spacing | 72" - 120" (180cm - 3m) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | United States, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Salt, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil, Clay Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Birds, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Ground Covers |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
How many Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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