Aromatic Sumac (Rhus aromatica)
Aromatic Sumac (Rhus aromatica)
Low stock: 6 left
Couldn't load pickup availability
Rhus aromatica Aiton
Fragrant Sumac, Aromatic Sumac, Lemon Sumac, Polecat Bush
Anacardiaceae (Sumac Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: RHAR4
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
Fragrant sumac is an irregular, spreading, deciduous shrub, 6-12 ft. tall, with velvety twigs and lower branches turned up at the tips. Glossy, somewhat blue-green, coarsely toothed, trifoliate leaves turn orange, red, purple and yellow in the fall. Yellowish catkin-like flowers precede dark-red berries which persist into March. A sprawling, small to medium-size shrub with aromatic foliage.
Plant Characteristics
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Trifoliate
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: Height 6-12 feet and 4-6 feet wide.
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit: Red
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: MB , ON , QC
Native Distribution: W. Que. to n. MI & IL, s. to GA, LA & KS, west to California and southern Oregon, south to Guerrero in west-central Mexico
Native Habitat: Dry, rocky prairies, old fields & open woods
Growing Conditions
Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam Clay, Rocky, Caliche type, Limestone-based
Conditions Comments: In spring, fragrant sumac flowers appear before the foliage. This shrub turns fall colors of red, yellow and orange. The flower is a nectar source for adult butterflies. Fragrant sumac colonizes to form thickets and looks best when planted en mass or in drift-like plantings as it occurs in nature. It is fast growing, generally pest and disease-free, and drought-tolerant. Colonies are often single-sexed, formed from a single, suckering parent. Only female plants produce flowers and berries.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Several cultivated varieties of this shrub are available. Aromatic, Attractive, Fall conspicuous
Use Wildlife: The berries are winter food. Its berries provide food for small animals and birds such as Townsend's Solitaires.
Use Food: Its berries provide food for small animals and birds such as Townsend's Solitaires.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Red-banded hairstreak butterfly
Deer Resistant: High
Image Information
Photographer: Mathews, RayCity: Austin
County: Travis
State: TX
Location Notes: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Butterfly Garden.
Accession date: 2014-06-04
Filename: RCM_IMG0638.JPG
Slide Index: Fragrant (Aeromatic) sumac - Best Wildflowers Spring 2013 DSC08321
Restrictions: Unrestricted
Collection: Wildflower Center Digital Library
Original Format: Digital
Orientation: Landscape
Shot: Close-up of fruits (drupes) and foliage.
Date Taken: 5/8/2013
NPIN Image Id: 37670
