Rhus aromatica 'Gro-low'

Plant incredible 'Gro-low' Fragrant Sumac where other shrubs give up - on steep slopes, in poor soil, and across challenging terrain. These Western North Carolina natives handle the toughest conditions with beauty and grace, resisting erosion, heat, drought, deer, rabbits, and even low-grade fire! 

Watch them transform each fall, as the fragrant-when-crushed foliage transforms from stunning glossy green to warm oranges and deep reds. They combine wonderfully with larger shrubs, perennials, and under native trees, transforming your garden into a haven for pollinators and wildlife - the flower nectar attracts dreamy butterflies (including monarchs🦋), luna moths, and native bees! 

High in Vitamin C, the edible red berries have been treasured for generations - traditionally brewed into a refreshing lemonade-like beverage - and used in herbal preparations. The berries also attract robins, flickers, ruffled grouse, turkeys and more.

Low-maintenance and deeply rewarding, these sturdy, resilient, native shrubs earn their place in any garden while providing important food & habitat for wildlife. They can be planted near Black Walnut trees.

✨Dave Penland, co-owner of Reems Creek Nursery and a licensed NC Landscape Contractor, LOVES Rhus 'Gro-low', "They are a soft-textured native groundcover shrub that tolerate poor soil, deer, and support many pollinators - there's not many other plants that can check all those boxes!"

They are happiest in full sun to partial shade and in moist to dry, well-draining soils. Mature size: 3'T x 8'W. 'Gro-low' is a selection of our native Rhus aromatica species.

Plant nerd:

🦋Rhus aromatica is included on the Monarch Joint Venture, National Wildlife Foundation, and Xerxes Society list of Monarch plants for the Southeast. According to the National Wildlife Foundation, Rhus plants are 🐛caterpillar hosts for 53 species of butterflies and moths in Weaverville, NC.

These are amazing plants for herbalists and foragers! The bark has been used to help with UTIs and related symptoms. The leaves and bark can also be used for tanning leather due to the high tannin content, and the roots can be used to create a yellow dye.

These plants are in the Anacardiaceae or cashew family.