Rhus aromatica Gro-Low - Fragrant Sumach

Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low'® is a recent variety of Aromatic Sumac, an aromatic suckering bush in all its parts, little known to amateur gardeners but praised by landscaping professionals for its great ease of cultivation and its autumn foliage. 'Gro-Low' has been selected for its slow growth, its very dense habit and its quite fantastic autumn colours. On this plant, small yellow flowers appear from early spring, followed by pretty red and velvety berries. They accompany a flamboyant foliage at the end of the season, and often persist on the branches throughout winter. Hardy, capable of adapting to almost any situation, extremely resistant and versatile, 'Gro-Low'® is perfect for greening natural or difficult areas of the garden, in most of our regions.

The Aromatic Sumac 'Gro-Low'® belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, just like Cotinus and pistachio trees. It comes from Rhus aromatica, native to the eastern United States. In its natural habitat, this suckering shrub spreads in the clear undergrowth that covers highlands, meadows and heathlands, as well as between rocks on cliffs. Extremely hardy, it tolerates any well-drained soil, slightly acidic, neutral or even limestone (pH 6 to 8.5), and a sunny to semi-shaded exposure. Once established, it tolerates rather well dry soils in summer.

This shrub has a slow growth and its adult size will not exceed 50 to 60cm (19.7 to 23.6in) in height, but it spreads over 2.5m (8ft 2in) in width. With a spreading and rounded habit, it develops a ramified and dense vegetation, with long ascending and then trailing stems. Its deciduous foliage is composed of leaves divided into 3 leaflets, shiny green, toothed on the edges, pubescent and lighter on the underside. They emit, just like the branches, a citrus aroma when crushed or bruised. They emerge brown-red in spring, then turn green, and finally orange and then red to purple-violet at the end of the season. In this Sumac, there are male and female plants, as well as hermaphroditic individuals, which are rarer. The flowering begins in autumn on the branches. The male flowers are arranged in long catkins, while the female flowers are grouped in short terminal panicles. The flowers bloom in March-April, before the leaves appear. They are fragrant and yellow. The flowering is followed in summer on the female or hermaphroditic plants by red, velvety drupes gathered in tight clusters. If not consumed by birds and some small mammals, they can persist until the heart of winter.

Plant Rhus 'Gro-Low'® along a pathway, a fence wall, to border a rockery or to dress an unattractive slope that it will stabilize. Forming a dense mass with remarkable autumn colours, it excels in difficult areas to cover, in poor soil or in slightly wild corners of the garden, for example under a small grove composed of 3 to 5 deciduous small trees. It can also be used in front of low hedges where compact Forsythias, broom Genistas, hedge honeysuckles or Tartarian honeysuckles, creeping Cotoneasters and Berberis mix. For flamboyant backgrounds, it can be associated with European spindle trees, Persian ironwoods, smoke trees or castor oil plants. 

Unlike its cousin Rhus radicans, Aromatic Sumac is not toxic to humans. On the contrary, its leaves and fruits can be dried and used in infusions. It is used in homeopathy, particularly in dermatology. Birds are fond of its fruits.