Lytle, Melody
Rhus aromatica Ait.
Fragrant sumac, Aromatic sumac, Lemon sumac, Polecat bush
Anacardiaceae (Sumac Family)
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.
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: Perennial Habit: Shrub Leaf Retention: Deciduous Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Leaf Complexity: Trifoliate Size Notes: Height 5-12 feet and 4 to 6 wide.
Autumn Foliage: yes
Flower:
Fruit: Red
Size Class: 6-12 ft.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , CT , FL , GA , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , MD , MA , MI , MN , MS , MO , NE , NH , NJ , NY , NC , OH , OK , PA , SC , SD , TN , TX , VT , VA , WV , WI , DC
Canada: MB ,
ON ,
QC Native Distribution: W. Que. to n. MI & IL, s. to GA, LA & KS
Native Habitat: Dry, rocky prairies, old fields & open woods
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Dry
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 Townsends Solitaires.
Use Food: Its berries provide food for small animals and birds such as Townsends Solitaires.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Red-banded hairstreak butterfly
Deer Resistant: High
Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)
Rhus aromatica is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Last Update: 2012-12-09
