Fragrant sumac
Rhus aromatica
Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) is a Colorado-native shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 2–3 ft tall and 6–8 ft wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun to part. 'Gro-Low' is the ubiquitous Front Range ground-cover-shrub form — 2-3 ft tall × 6-8 ft wide. Brilliant red fall color.
Colorado nativelow to medium water2–3 ft tall and 6–8 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Rhus aromatica
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Gro-Low'
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 2–3 ft tall and 6–8 ft wide
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- full sun to part
- Colorado native
- Yes
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- yellow
- Bloom time
- early spring
- Pollinator value
- moderate
- Good for
- slope, hellstrip
Planting & establishment
Water weekly first summer; minimal after. Suckering spread fills beds over 3–5 years.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Fragrant sumac good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Fragrant sumac is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a shrub suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Fragrant sumac get?
- It matures to about 2–3 ft tall and 6–8 ft wide.
- How much water does Fragrant sumac need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Fragrant sumac native to Colorado?
- Yes — it is a Colorado native.
