October Shrub of the Month-Fragrant sumac

Don’t touch it!

The sneaky fragrant sumac, Rhus aromatica, and its trifoliate leaves have fooled many. At first glance, the arrangement of three leaflets looks very similar to poison ivy.

This friendly, low-growing native shrub typically grows 2-4′ high and spreads by underground stems, eventually forming dense thickets in the wild. In the typical home-garden, it needs a little breathing room to spread and be happy. 

Rhus aromatica is excellent for erosion control and areas with poor but well-drained soil in full-to-part sun conditions. The name comes from the leaves and stems that give off a spicy scent when crushed or bruised. 

But how do you tell poison ivy (PI) from fragrant sumac? There’s a great comparison webpage below, but generally, if it’s climbing a tree, it’s poison ivy since fragrant sumac always sprawls along on solid ground. PI berries are white when ripe, fragrant sumac berries are red.

Eastern Poison Ivy vs Fragrant Sumac: Identification – bplant.org

What I love about this plant;

-Has nice fall color.

-Typically, low-maintenance.

-Aromatic leaves and stems.

-Tolerates poor soil.

-Great for erosion control.

-It’s native and great for natural areas where it can do its ‘thing’!

What’s not so great;

-Fragrant sumac has been noted to be a great hedge plant. If you like uniform, OCD hedges, this is not the plant for you. It will sprawl out of lines and be a constant maintenance issue if you try to conform it to an “English garden” or typical suburban hedge.

-Doesn’t have showy flowers or fruit.

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com, All rights reserved.