Great Design Plant: Skunkbush Sumac (Rhus trilobata) for Year-Round Interest

Skunkbush sumac (Rhus trilobata)—also called lemonade bush, fragrant sumac, or squawbush—is a tough, drought-tolerant native shrub that shines in late winter when little else blooms. Its early flowers feed emerging pollinators, its foliage blazes orange-to-scarlet in fall, and its fuzzy red fruits sustain birds through winter. A versatile, long-lived choice for western gardens.

Susan J Tweit

Quick Facts

• Zones: 2b–9 (hardy to –40°F / –40°C)
• Size: Up to 5 ft tall, 8 ft wide
• Light: Full sun to light shade
• Water: Extremely drought-tolerant once established
• Soil: Well-drained sandy or loamy; tolerates clay; don't amend—lean soil is best
• Plant: Late summer or fall

Susan J Tweit

Seasonal Highlights

Late winter/early spring: Tiny ivory-to-pale-yellow flower clusters open as early as January in southern ranges, emitting a sweet scent that draws native bees from afar—crucial early forage. Branches and leaf litter also provide nesting habitat for native bees.

Susan J Tweit

Spring/summer: Distinctive three-lobed leaves (1–3 in across) give the species its name. Foliage is aromatic when crushed.

Fall: Leaves turn brilliant orange to scarlet.

Winter: Sturdy gray stems and angled branching provide structure. Fuzzy reddish-brown fruits (high in vitamin C and antioxidants) persist, feeding songbirds, quail, chipmunks. Fruits can be steeped for a tart "lemonade."

National Park Service, Petrified Forest

Historical & Medicinal Uses

Native Americans and settlers used all parts: bark chewed for colds, fruits for toothaches, leaf tea as diuretic. Modern caution: toxic compounds are concentrated in the oil; seasonings with oil removed (like filé powder from leaves) are safe.

Landscape Uses

• Wildlife thicket: Plant a drift in sun for bird cover and nesting—it suckers to form colonies.
• Specimen accent: Single shrub against a wall for fall color.
• Erosion control: Excellent on hot south/west slopes; mounding form stabilizes banks.

Plant Select®

Planting & Care

Plant in warm soil (late summer/fall) to establish roots. No fertilizer, no supplemental water once established—overwatering causes root rot. Prune only to shape.

Cultivar: 'Autumn Amber'

Low-growing (10–14 in tall × 6 ft wide) selection from New Mexico, ideal for draping over walls and boulders or as shrubby ground cover. Zones 4–8 (less cold-hardy than species).