Fragrant Sumac

Most of the time when you think of plants and fragrance, you automatically think of flowers. However, the super-hardy native Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica), though, doesn't have fragrant flowers - What does smell so great on the Fragrant Sumac is the leaves!

While these Sumac do have lovely spring flowers, they don't smell. But crush one of the leaves between your fingers in July and you'll see what we mean. It's like an all-natural potpourri! The three-lobed pointed and toothy leaves are a bit blue-green and glossy, shining all growing season long until the fall when they transform into oranges, reds, purples, and yellows!

Because these shrubs are native, they have considerable variability in their size and shape. Ranging between 2 to 8 feet in height and spreading generally 5 to 6 feet wide. If they are happy where they are, Fragrant Sumac will start to spread, forming a nice little colony for you and filling in empty spaces. Growing throughout a wide swath of the US, these hardy plants grow throughout Planting Zones 3 to 9.

Planting and Application:

This native Sumac loves to fill in those tough spots in your garden. It is native to America, so it adapts to just about any condition your garden has, except for really wet or heavy clay-like soil. They are even road salt tolerant, so can be used in long street plantings. Use them in harsh urban environments along parking lots and raised planters in the concrete jungles.

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.

Fragrant Sumac makes a pretty hedge or back of the border, especially if you like a wilder edge to your landscape. These plants grow naturally throughout the woods in the central part of the U.S., so they do fine in full sunlight to dappled shade.

This is a great plant for attracting wildlife - Birds and butterflies love it! Use this plant with other natives like Black-Eyed Susan or Joe-Pye Weed for a beautiful, natural, and very low-maintenance garden! Consider using Fragrant Sumac in those poor soil areas that are hot and dry, like Rock Gardens, xeric landscapes, and those hell strips along the road, sidewalk, and driveway. They are even road salt tolerant, so can be used in long street plantings.

For a solid, massed planting, plant these Sumacs 3 feet apart 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. 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.

• Beautiful Native Selection
• Glossy Blue-Green Trifoliate Leaves
• Scarlet Fruit Attracts Birds, Deer & Wildlife
• Red, Orange, Yellow & Purple Foliage in Autumn
• Birds & Butterflies Love It
• Wide-Spreading Low-Growing & Easy to Grow!
• For Harsh Conditions, Cover Ground in Wide Areas, Erosion & En Masse

#ProPlantTips for Care:

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

Give young plants a regular schedule of regular moisture to establish. 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

Nature Hills sells healthy, high-quality Sumac plants and we know you will be very satisfied with our Fragrant Sumacs, so you can order with confidence today.