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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Rhus aromatica var. aromatica (Fragrant sumac)
Cressler, Alan

Rhus aromatica var. aromatica

Rhus aromatica Aiton var. aromatica

Fragrant Sumac

Anacardiaceae (Sumac Family)

Synonym(s): Rhus aromatica var. illinoensis, Schmaltzia crenata

USDA Symbol: RHARA2

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.

A state-listed Special Concern species in Connecticut.

 

From the Image Gallery

4 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Complexity: Trifoliate
Fruit Type: Drupe
Autumn Foliage: yes

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WV
Canada: ON , QC

Additional resources

USDA: Find Rhus aromatica var. aromatica in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Rhus aromatica var. aromatica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Rhus aromatica var. aromatica

Metadata

Record Modified: 2014-10-22
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

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