Gro-Low Fragrant Sumac

Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low'

Gro-Low fragrant sumac is the native ground cover for brutal sites. Dry slopes, highway banks, sandy slopes in full sun where nothing else wants to be. this is where it thrives. The cultivar stays eighteen to thirty inches tall but spreads six to eight feet wide, forming a dense, weed-suppressing mat that holds slopes in place through erosion, drought, and neglect. The fragrance is the surprise. Crush a leaf and you get a sharp, resinous, almost citrusy scent. Small yellow flower clusters in early spring come before the leaves, providing first-of-season nectar for native bees. The fall color is deep orange to red. In winter, small red berries are taken by birds. There's almost no scenario where this plant fails. it's the definition of tough and giving at the same time.