Rhus aromatica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- RHOOS ar-oh-MAT-ih-kuh
- Description
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This low, irregular spreading shrub has branches that touch the ground and often form roots. It also suckers to form colonies. This plant has many benefits, including fall color and being tolerant to the following: drought, erosion, black walnut, rabbit, clay soil, dry soil, and shallow rocky soil.
Fragrant sumac has good fall color (red). Colonial. Mostly dioecious: needs male pollinator for female fruit set.
Habitat: Rocky woodlands
VIDEO created by Grant L. Thompson for “Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines for Landscaping” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Woodland Backyard Garden Walk
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Gro-low'
Great for slopes and erosion control; plant is under 3 feet tall but spreads about 8 feet - var. trilobata
- 'Gro-low'
- 'Gro-low', var. trilobata
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Gro-low'
Great for slopes and erosion control; plant is under 3 feet tall but spreads about 8 feet - var. trilobata
- 'Gro-low'
- 'Gro-low', var. trilobata
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rhus
- Species:
- aromatica
- Family:
- Anacardiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada and U.S.
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies, Luna moths, and birds. Turkey, ruffed grouse, robins, and flickers feed on berries, as well as small mammals like raccoons, possums, and chipmunks. Provides cover for small mammals and birds.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought, erosion, black walnut, rabbit, clay soil, dry soil, and shallow rocky soil. Heat and drought tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- Red hairy drupes are on female plants from April to June.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1 in. yellowish flowers on male catkin in spring that persist; red hairy drupe on female plants in summer; persists into winter. Blooms from February to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has alternate, trifoliate, glossy medium to dark green leaves that are 1.5 to 3 in. long and are coarsely toothed. They have an orange, red to reddish-purple fall color.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Allelopathic
