Fragrant Sumac
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

Gets 2-6' tall and 6-10' wide. Suckers and spreads. Spreading, mounded habit. A mass of tangled stems and leaves, this is a dense, rambling, low-growing shrub that forms thickets in the wild. Slow to medium growth rate. Relatively short-lived, at 20-50 years.

Native Range

Kentucky Native — Native from Vermont and Ontario to Minnesota, south to Florida and Louisiana. Introduced in 1759. Native in Central, south-central and east-central United States, including central Kentucky.

Flower and Fruit Details

Flowers are polygamous or dioecious, yellowish, March-April, in 1" long male catkins or in short female panicles at ends of branches. Male catkins persist through late summer, fall and winter. The red fruits, on female plants, are hairy drupes, 0.25", August-September, then losing their color and persisting into winter.

Leaf and Bark Features

Deciduous: Leaves are fragrant, somewhat glossy, medium-green to blue-green on top, alternate, trifoliate, with the terminal leaflet much larger, 1.5-3" long. Petiole 1-1.5" long. Underside of leaflets starts out pubescent. Leaflets are coarsely toothed. Fall color is orange, red, or reddish-purple, coloring best on light, sandy soils. Bark is smooth or scaly, with horizontal lenticels. Older bark is reddish-brown and somewhat furrowed. Twigs are aromatic when bruised.

Culture and Care

Prefers acid, well-drained soils, but is very adaptable. Tolerates heat, drought, full sun to part shade, deicing salts, and clay soils. Easily transplanted from containers. Overgrown plants can easily be rejuvenated with a large mower. Does not tolerate soil compaction, air pollution, 2,4-D herbicide drift, flooding or heavy shade. Avoid, wet, poorly-drained sites. Does well at pH 6.1-8.5. Zones 3-9. No serious pests, but occasional problems include wilts, leaf spots, powdery mildew, rusts, cankers, mites, aphids, and scale insects.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

Good wildlife value. 3-season interest: Spring, Summer & Fall. This plant roots along the stems wherever the low branches touch the soil. Butterflies utilize the flowers, and songbirds enjoy the fruits. Fibrous roots help prevent erosion on slopes. Not usually damaged by rabbits.

Suggested Uses

Good low spreading shrub or groundcover for banks, cuts, fills, massing, traffic islands, sunny, dry, exposed sites, and on slopes and embankments for holding the soil with its fibrous root system.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA