Skunkbush Sumac (Rhus trilobata)

With smaller flowers and leaves than Rhus aromatica, this more upright species is also great for massing in larger spaces. Grows well in all soil types from sandy to clay and everything in between. Extremely drought tolerant. Yellow flowers attract bees in spring and are followed by red fruit which is edible. The fruits were used by Native Americans in foods, beverages and for medicinal purposes. They would also use Skunkbrush Sumac’s young stems along with grass stems to weave baskets to hold water.  Fall foliage rounds out this plant’s three-season interest. This shrub can form dense thickets which provide great hiding and nesting sites for small birds and mammals. It is great to use in windbreaks, shelterbelts and for erosion control.

NATIVE RANGE

Map courtesy of the USDA-NRCS Plant Database.