Rhus aromatica 'Lacette' (Fragrant Sumac)

Rhus aromatica 'Lacette' is an attractive, semi-dwarf cultivar of fragrant sumac, a medium to large shrub native to much of eastern North America. Noted for its dense, mounding habit as opposed to the sprawling or groundcover habit of other varieties, as well as its shiny, fragrant leaves. Growing to a mature size of about 3-5' tall and 4-6' wide, 'Lacette' is the perfect choice for borders and hedges in stubborn, dry, or nutrient poor areas where other hedge plants just won't thrive. Rhus aromatica 'Lacette' smells great, and this fragrance also makes it resistant to both deer and rabbit damage; and beyond its fragrant foliage, 'Lacette' is attractive all-year round: In early spring, tiny yellow female flowers emerge from new wood, shortly before the set of deep green, glossy, multi-lobed foliage that stays consistently handsome all summer thanks to their drought tolerance.

From it's name, the main attraction for the 'Lacette' cultivar is its uniquely shaped leaves, which take on a lace-margined appearance with ruffles and small lobes, adding grace and texture alongside dense growth and hardy environmental tolerance. In the cooler months, foliage turns to stunning shades of red, purple, and orange in the fall before leaves drop in winter, revealing dense branching and persistent red fruits that last well through January. Like many types of Rhus aromatica, the flowers for this variety are typically female, but plants can also produce male catkins, which are unremarkable but pollinate for female flowers and produce hairy clusters of berry-like fruits, which resemble miniature versions of the showy fruits found on other sumacs, like staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina). Butterflies and other pollinators are attracted to flowers, birds to the fruit, and gardeners to the spicy, piney smell produced by rubbing or crushing the plant's leaves. Thanks to this cultivar's semi-compact size and reliable growth habit, 'Lacette' makes for an excellent, consistent hedge, border plant, or specimen planting, anywhere with full sun and medium-moist to drier, well-draining soils.