Growing guide · Shrubs

Rhus aromatica

How to grow Fragrant Sumac 'Gro-Low'.

Covers the slope. Torches it in fall.

Light
Full sun, part sun
Water
Low
Zones
3–9
Size
18–24 in. tall, 6–7 ft wide
Spacing
4–5 ft apart for full coverage.
Pets
Not on the ASPCA pet-safe list; keep it out of reach
See sizes · from $87.99
Low spreading sumac with glossy three-part leaves turning orange and red

Light

Full sun for the best fall color; part shade works.

Water

Water to establish; drought tolerant after that.

Planting and soil

Plant in spring or fall in about any well-drained soil, including clay and rocky spots.

Feeding

None.

Pruning

Cut back hard in late winter every few years to renew it.

Through the year

Catkins in March–April, glossy green summer, orange-red-purple in October.

If something's off

Few problems. It spreads by layering, which is the point on a slope.

Plays well with

Plant it with friends.

Switch Grass 'Totem Pole'
Panicum virgatumSwitch Grass 'Totem Pole' from $67.99
Juniper 'Grey Owl'
Juniperus virginianaJuniper 'Grey Owl' from $65.99
Coneflower 'Cheyenne Spirit'
Echinacea hybridConeflower 'Cheyenne Spirit' from $30.99

Why we stock it: A native groundcover shrub for hard sites, with outstanding fall color.

Grows wild in 23 states (USDA PLANTS records). About 48 native butterfly and moth species use Rhus as a host (Narango et al. 2020).

That's everything we know about growing it. Thanks for reading.

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