Rhus aromatica Seeds | Fragrant Sumac
LATIN NAME: Rhus aromatica
COMMON NAME: Fragrant Sumac, Lemon Sumac, Skunkbush
Plant Profile
A distinctive member of its genus, Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica) is a low, spreading, deciduous shrub in the cashew family, native to dry slopes and open woodlands of the north America, while it has been cultivated for its toughness. Mature plants top out at about Two metres. Plants that offer this much while asking this little are rare enough to treasure.
Science & Biotechnology
Seed science, comparative botany and horticultural selection all touch on Rhus aromatica, a representative of the cashew family with clear practical value. Fragrant sumac has a real and distinguished place in research. The practical point for growers is that this plant has been observed in gardens for so long that its behaviour holds few surprises.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Fragrant Sumac earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Fragrant sumac is a low, spreading, deciduous shrub of dry slopes and open woodlands, bearing three-parted, aromatic leaves and clusters of small, red, hairy fruits in the autumn. To raise fragrant sumac, sow seeds in pots of sandy, open soil in a sunny, bright place, keep them gently watered, and grow little shrubs on in the sun. Once settled, it thrives on neglect more than on fussing.
Sumacs give the tangy, vitamin-C-rich red spice of Middle Eastern cooking and the traditional sumac-ade of North America; their tannins tanned leather and dyed cloth for millennia.
Growing from Seed
Raising Fragrant Sumac from seed is straightforward. Fill a pot with a light seed compost, sow evenly on the surface, cover thinly and stand it somewhere warm, bright and evenly moist. Transplant the sturdiest seedlings to their permanent spots and let them develop without disturbance.
Our Take
As a low, spreading, deciduous shrub, it settles into a routine quickly once established. Fragrant Sumac, Lemon Sumac, Skunkbush has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. Give the seed freshness and steady moisture, and nature handles the rest.
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