Is Fragrant Sumac deer resistant?
Rhus aromatica
Plant typeShrubHardinessZones 3–9LightPart shade
Mature height24–72 in
BloomSpringMaintenanceLow, mostly leave it alone
Native range34 US states
About Fragrant Sumac
Crushed leaves smell of citrus, which is what keeps deer off it. Excellent on dry banks where it roots as it spreads and holds the soil.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5.5 to 7.5
- Drainage
- Well drained
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 71 to 118 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low
Similar to Fragrant Sumac
Other shrubs with the same deer rating.
- Arrowwood ViburnumViburnum dentatumZones 2–8Rarely damaged
- BarberryBerberis sp.Zones 4–8, genus rangeRarely damaged
- BayberryMyrica pensylvanicaZones 3–7Rarely damaged
- Blue Mist ShrubCaryopteris clandonensisZones 6–9Rarely damaged
- BoxwoodBuxus sempervirensZones 5–8Rarely damaged
- BroomCytisus sp.Zones 5–8, genus rangeRarely damaged
Where Fragrant Sumac grows
Hardy across most of these 51 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesotanative
- Missourinative
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Georgianative
- Texasnative
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- West Virginianative
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Floridanative
- Alabamanative
- Mississippinative
- Louisiananative
- Arkansasnative
- Oklahomanative
- Kansasnative
- Nebraskanative
- Iowanative
- North Dakota
- South Dakotanative
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaska
- District of Columbianative
- Hawaii
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 34 US states in total.
Browse from here
Every list Fragrant Sumac belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Fragrant Sumac
- Is Fragrant Sumac deer resistant?
- Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica) is rated Rarely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Deer almost always leave this alone.
- What hardiness zones does Fragrant Sumac grow in?
- Fragrant Sumac is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Fragrant Sumac grow in shade?
- Yes. Fragrant Sumac tolerates part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- How big does Fragrant Sumac get?
- Mature height is roughly 24–72 in. Growth rate is moderate.