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Gro-Low Sumac

Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low'

Regular price $6999
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Plant Highlights

Gro-Low Sumac highlights at a glance!

Specifications

  • Brand
    Nature Hills' Choice
  • Botanical Name
    Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low'
  • Growing Zones
    3-9
  • Mature Height
    2 - 3 feet
  • Mature Spread
    6 - 8 feet
  • Sun Exposure
    Full Sun
  • Moisture
    Moderate to Low
  • Soil
    Widely Adaptable
  • Growth Rate
    Medium
  • Flower Color
    Insignificant Yellow
  • Fall Color
    Orange/Red/Purple
  • Pollinator Friendly
    Yes
  • Fragrant
    Yes
  • Pruning Time
    Early Spring
  • Bloom Period
    Late Spring

Some plants have jobs to do, and groundcover plants are a great example! They cover the ground in poor soil and face fierce, full sun conditions without the luxury of extra water. Of course, they must be quite attractive and have a spreading growth habit. The ultimate goal of a groundcover shrub is that you can plant them and forget them.

Gro-Low Sumac (Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low') is a small deciduous shrub that features handsome, glossy dark foliage. Each leaf is made up of 3 cute little leaflets that are wonderfully aromatic. After all, this native plant was a selection of Fragrant Sumac! Get ready to start loving the yummy fragrance and carefree nature of this colorful, drought-tolerant shrub.

Birds and butterflies will appreciate your choice! And it's really easy on the eyes. This handsome groundcover-type shrub easily spreads out to cover the open ground for you.

We bet you'll love the nice, rounded form and lovely leaves all season long! Each plant may spread 6-8 feet across, so you get a lot of coverage per plant. This makes it a perfect, budget-conscious plant. Yet another reason this shrub is so popular!

It looks nice all season with small yellow flowers in spring. In fall, female plants add darling, tiny, fuzzy red fruit. But you'll really appreciate the outstanding foliage in autumn! Just imagine orange leaves blazed with plum purple, and scarlet to a stunning reddish-purple! It's absolutely stunning!

Growing throughout almost the entire US throughout USDA planting zones 3 to 9, reaching 2-3 feet in height and spreading 6-8 feet in width. Staying compact and growing densely as Gro-Low creeps along, you'll love the coverage and ornamental qualities of this rugged shrub!

Planting and Application:

Consider using Gro-Low in those poor soil areas that are hot and dry. Large, open sweeping beds need a common plant that helps tie a landscape together. Easy care Gro-Low is an excellent choice to use throughout your plantings to unify them all together.

Grass lawns are high maintenance. Why not eliminate some of those large, grassy open areas with a massed planting of Gro-Low? These turf grass alternatives are easily maintained at knee-high or less if you prefer. But give these hard-working plants plenty of space to spread out. That's why you are using them, after all!

They'll suppress weeds and give beauty to hot, open areas. They grow well on slopes and rugged areas with poor soil. This Sumac would look great as a central ornamental feature in your front yard, especially if it's a steep site. Even if you are stuck with a flat site, just bring in soil to create a raised berm. Then plant 3 of them in a loose triangle to accent that berm. The birds will thank you for the nesting and shelter!

Gro-Low Sumacs do well in raised planters in hot, dry areas. They'll love being planted at the top of brick sandstone retaining walls. Use mulch between plants for easy, simple maintenance.

Using lawn can be dangerous and this is a super soil-holding plant for embankments and slowing erosion! Use this instead of trying to mow steep hillsides, which can be very dangerous. Try them at your home along driveways and terraces. They are even road salt tolerant, so can be used in long street plantings.

Commercial property owners can use them in harsh urban environments along parking lots and raised planters in the concrete jungles. They just thrive in those hot dry environments. They make an excellent edging plant for large-scale plantings and commercial landscapes.

For a solid, massed planting, plant Gro-Low 3 feet on center to fill in the whole area. Measure from the center of one plant to the center of the next. Buy our larger plant containers to achieve a full, solid look faster.

Gro-Low could be used as an important part of a magnificent Sumac collection. Plant taller Staghorn up top and make your way down the slope with Cutleaf and Tiger Eye. Plant the bottom of the slope in Gro-Low Sumac. Here is your chance to use large outdoor artwork. Accent your planting with large boulders dug well into the side of the slope. Use rugged Juniper groundcover shrubs as a wonderful partner plant to gain year-round evergreen visual interest.

Keep it classy or have a blast with novelty pieces. Life is short, so why not?

  • Wonderful Fragrant Foliage Plant
  • Brilliant Orange & Purple Fall Color
  • Birds & Butterflies Love It
  • Wide-Spreading Low-Growing & Easy to Grow!
  • Use to Cover Ground in Wide Open Areas, Erosion & En Masse

#ProPlantTips for Care:

For the best growth and fall color, give Sumac Shrubs a place in full sun! Gro-Low Sumac is an excellent plant for use in areas where crummy, rocky soils may exist. They can grow in almost any well-drained soil, as long as they get watered well to establish the young plants. This miniature Fragrant Sumac thrives in acid soils but tolerates alkaline soils, too.

Give young plants a regular schedule of regular moisture to establish. Poke your finger into the ground next to a new plant every other day or so. Is it getting dry? Give it water. Is it still moist? Skip watering that day. Once it's established, it is quite drought tolerant. A 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch over the roots helps keep weeds down and holds moisture in the soil more consistently.

Prune once a year in early spring. If you need to snip an errant branch, you can do that at any time, including during the hottest parts of summer. Control the spread by trimming them down in height in early spring before they leaf out.

Deer and rabbits don't usually damage it, either. It's a good idea to use Deer Repellent spray in deer country. Fence young plants as all tender green plants may tempt hungry animals. Rabbit Repellent can and should be applied to all new plantings, especially if there is any pressure on local rabbit populations. Reapply according to the directions.

  • Drought Tolerant Sun Lover
  • Any Type of Well-Drained Soil
  • Moderate to Low Moisture
  • Rarely Damaged by Rabbits or Deer
  • Very Low Maintenance - Prune Early Spring

Handsome, easy-care groundcover, with a lot of natural appeal, Gro-Low will definitely help boost your style points. Order enough to complete your project today, as it's very popular! NatureHills.com sells out every year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Gro-Low Sumac spread in my landscape?

  • Yes! Gro-Low Sumac is an excellent spreading groundcover that naturally expands 6-8 feet wide (up to 10 feet in optimal conditions) through shallow root systems and gracefully arching branches. This vigorous spreading habit makes it perfect for covering large areas, stabilizing slopes, and creating dense, weed-suppressing coverage. For continuous groundcover, plant your NatureHills Gro-Low Sumac 4-6 feet apart and watch it fill in beautifully over 2-3 growing seasons.

What's the mature size of Gro-Low Sumac?

  • Your Gro-Low Sumac will reach a compact 18-36 inches tall while spreading 6-8 feet wide at maturity. This low-maintenance shrub grows quickly in its first few years after planting, then establishes into a reliable, dense mat that never needs staking. Hardy in USDA Zones 3-9, it's an ideal solution for areas where you want maximum coverage with minimal height.

How do I care for my Gro-Low Sumac after planting?

  • Gro-Low Sumac is remarkably low-maintenance once established

Is Gro-Low Sumac considered invasive?

  • Absolutely not. Gro-Low Sumac is a native North American plant that's not listed on any invasive species registries. While it does spread naturally (which is exactly what makes it such an effective groundcover), it spreads at a manageable, predictable rate and is easily controlled with simple landscape edging or annual pruning. Unlike aggressive invasive plants, Gro-Low Sumac plays well with other native plants and provides valuable wildlife habitat and food sources.

Why choose NatureHills.com for your Gro-Low Sumac?

  • Our professionally grown Gro-Low Sumac arrives healthy, well-rooted, and ready to establish quickly in your landscape. With deer resistance, drought tolerance once established, and stunning orange-red fall color, this native groundcover delivers year-round beauty with minimal care required.

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