ShrubsFragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica) is a slow-growing shrub, hardy in USDA zones 3-9, that matures to about 2-6 ft × 6-10 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with low water needs in well-drained, moist and occasionally-dry soil. Expect yellow and green blooms in spring. It attracts bees, butterflies and moths, stands up well to black walnut, deer and drought.
- USDA zones
- 3-9
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Water
- Low
- Mature size
- 2-6 ft × 6-10 ft
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally-dry
- Bloom color
- Yellow, Green
- Bloom season
- Spring
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Moths, Small mammals, Songbirds
- Tough against
- Black walnut, Deer, Drought, Dry soil, Erosion, Rabbits
- Native to
- North America
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Fragrant Sumac is hardy to about -40°F (estimated from USDA zone 3), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
See the Fragrant Sumac in your own yard
Upload a photo and our AI designs with real plants like this one — matched to your USDA zone.
