Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 3190558

Fragrant Sumac

Rhus aromatica

Also known as Aromatic Sumac, Lemon Sumac, Skunk Bush, Polecat Bush

Fragrant sumac forms rambling thickets across dry glades and rocky slopes, spreading via root suckers to anchor thin, vulnerable soils. Clusters of minute yellow flowers emerge in early spring before the foliage expands, developing into fuzzy red drupes that persist into winter as a dependable food supply for songbirds. When bruised or brushed, the trifoliate leaves release a pungent, citrusy herbal aroma that readily distinguishes this harmless shrub from its rash-inducing cousins.

DeciduousShrubAromatic
Fragrant Sumac reference1 / 7
Licensed referenceBruce Marlin / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Sunlight
  • Water
  • Soil Nutrients
Predators
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Wild Turkey
  • Northern Bobwhite
ThreatsHabitat loss, intense fire suppression, and encroachment by invasive woody plants
HabitatsRocky bluffs, open woodlands, glades, thickets, and sand dunes
Life span20–30 years
Classification
  1. OrderSapindales
  2. FamilyAnacardiaceae
  3. GenusRhus
  4. SpeciesRhus aromatica
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Leaf Distinction: Check the middle leaflet, which lacks an extended stalk (petiolule), to differentiate it from poison ivy.
  • Scent Assessment: Lightly bruise a fallen or mature leaf between two fingers to detect the distinct lemon-skunk aroma.
  • Winter Observing: Scan leafless thickets in snow cover to spot foraging grouse and wintering bluebirds on the persistent red clusters.
Related species
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