Audubon®Native Fragrant Sumac

If you have a dry, sunny, barren space to fill in or a slope that’s hard to mow, you can take care of it beautifully, while benefiting wildlife as well. Fragrant Sumac is a native spreading Accent that fills up challenging sites with fresh greenery. In fall, that rich green foliage becomes a kaleidoscope of gold, orange, red, and purple. In very sunny sites, it turns into a flaming mass of scarlet. Pollinators delight in the pale yellow flowers of Fragrant Sumac in spring, while hungry songbirds will take advantage of the red fruits on female plants in winter. A treat for you and the creatures you share your space with!

A wide-ranging native, Fragrant Sumac is found in some form in every state in the lower 48. Our version grows east of the Rocky Mountains; another, similar version grows in the West. People who encounter Fragrant Sumac in the wild may be nervous, because its three-parted leaves look a lot like Poison Ivy. Although they’re related, there’s nothing to worry about with Fragrant Sumac! It won’t give you a rash. One notable difference between the two plants is the fruit: Poison Ivy’s is white and Fragrant Sumac’s is red. The red drupes make a refreshing lemonade-like drink when steeped in water.

Several interesting moth species feed on Fragrant Sumac. One is the showy emerald moth. As an adult, it is a gorgeous lime-green moth, but as a caterpillar it looks like a dead leaf that’s been torn up. Fragrant Sumac also hosts the pretty yellow slant-line moth and the large and striking regal moth.