Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica) Fall 2025

Native deciduous shrub

Varying in dimensions, it can either be erect with branches extending upwards or it can lay low, spreading its branches along the ground. Height 6-12 feet and 4-6 feet wide. Fragrant Sumac spreads  through rhizomes to form colonies.  In the spring it has tiny yellow flowers that appear at the tips of branches before the leaves appear.  In late summer the flowers are replaced with hairy red berries, and in the fall the leaves turn shades of red, orange & purple.

Prefers full or partial sun, dry conditions and sandy or rocky soil.

Although the leaves resemble those of the related Rhus radicans (Poison Ivy) this plant is not at all poisonous; in fact, if you were to crush the foliage between your fingers, the result would be the pleasant smell that gives Fragrant Sumac its name.  

Benefits: It attracts a wide variety of insects in search of nectar and pollen while others come to feed on the foliage. Small Carpenter Bees will tunnel into the stems to create their nests. It is a Host Plant to : Spring Azure and the Red-banded Hairstreak  It also provides food for wintering birds , when food sources are limited. Deer and Rabbits also visit for food.

High Deer resistance