June 2026 Plant Spotlights
So Many Sumacs!
Sumacs are everywhere, and with so much variety and so many shapes, sizes, and colors, it’s hard to know where to start! Right now at the nursery, we have 4 different varieties of sumac that are looking stunning in their summer clothes, so we wanted to give some info about them to help them stand out from the crowd.
Rhus glabra - Smooth Sumac
First up, we have smooth sumac, also called Rhus glabra. These versatile plants can grow as either large shrubs or small trees, reaching a mature height of 10-20’ tall and wide, with glossy green leaves. In the summer, pollinated smooth sumac flower clusters turn to attractive, cone-shaped clusters of small red berries, which are edible and can be turned into the kind of dried sumac you might see in Mediterranean cuisine.
Rhus typhina 'Tiger Eyes' - Staghorn Sumac
Perhaps even better known for their fruit, staghorn sumacs can produce even larger, showier clusters of berries. Rhus typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’ is one such staghorn sumac, but this variety’s ornamental appeal doesn’t stop and start with persistent fruit. This compact variety grows to a mature size of only 3-6’ tall and wide, with delicate, incised compound leaves that maintain a gorgeous rainbow of fiery colors throughout the growing season and into the fall.
Rhus aromatics 'Gro-Low' - Fragrant Sumac
And finally, aromatic or fragrant sumac (also called Rhus aromatica) is, as the name implied, heavily fragrant, with a slightly-sour-slightly-herbal fragrance that deters deer and rabbit, and smells great when grown near patios or as a hedgerow where it can be bumped up against. At the nursery, we have two different types of fragrant sumac: The first is a well-known variety called ‘Gro-Low’ that only gets to a mature height of 1-3’, but which can spread to cover up to 8’ horizontally. This type is excellent for erosion control, especially on embankments where it’s low profile keeps things under control without obstructing the view.
Rhus aromatica 'Lacette' - Fragrant Sumac
And the second variety we have is a beautiful selection called ‘Lacette.’ Much like how ‘Tiger Eyes’ staghorn sumac produces a showy leaf all through the year, ‘Lacette’ is noted for its attractive, finely-textured foliage with wrinkles and curls and cut-leaf edges; edges that showcase its fall color even better when they reach a mature size of 3-5’ tall and 6-7’ wide and turn to gorgeous red, orange, and maroon.