# fragrant sumac (*Rhus aromatica*) Fragrant sumac is a small shrub with bright green leaves that smell sweet when you touch them. In the fall, its leaves turn beautiful shades of red and orange, making it a lovely sight in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 17 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![fragrant sumac](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rhus_aromatica_foliage_catkins.jpg&width=800) Photo: Bruce Marlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhus_aromatica_foliage_catkins.jpg) ## Appearance The fragrant sumac is a low-growing shrub with distinctive three-part leaves that turn vibrant shades of orange, red, and purple in fall. It has clusters of small, yellowish-green flowers in spring, followed by fuzzy, bright red berries that persist into winter. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Anacardiaceae - **Genus:** Rhus ## Interesting facts - Crush its leaves and you'll smell a wonderfully fresh, lemony scent! - Its tart red berries are used to make a refreshing, pink 'sumac-ade' drink! - The fuzzy berries are called drupes and are packed with Vitamin C! - This super tough shrub can grow where other plants can't, like rocky, poor soil! ## Special abilities - **Drought Buster:** Fragrant sumac has deep, spreading roots that help it find water and survive in very dry places. - **Soil Anchor:** Its extensive root system firmly holds soil in place, preventing erosion on slopes and hillsides. - **Winter Snack Bar:** Its bright red berries stay on the plant through winter, providing a vital food source for birds. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-250 cm - **Spread:** 120-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** [American robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Eats persistent winter berries - **Eaten by:** [white-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on leaves and twigs - **Shelter:** [white-footed mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-footed-mouse) (*Peromyscus leucopus*) — Hides among its dense branches ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify fragrant sumac? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is fragrant sumac? 60-250 cm ### How wide does fragrant sumac spread? 120-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on fragrant sumac? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does fragrant sumac bloom? Spring ### Is fragrant sumac edible? Yes ### Is fragrant sumac toxic? None ### What is fragrant sumac's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Central Park West Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/central-park-west-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Durso Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/durso-park) — Illinois, US · Park - [Greenfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greenfield-park) — Wisconsin, US · Park - [Jumel Terrace Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jumel-terrace-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [MacDougal-Sullivan Gardens Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/macdougal-sullivan-gardens-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [McClellan Creek National Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mcclellan-creek-national-grassland) — Texas, US · National Park [View all places to see fragrant sumac](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/fragrant-sumac) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Fragrant Sumac: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fragrant-sumac)