Skunkbush Sumac

(Rhus trilobata)

Skunkbush Sumac (Rhus trilobata)

Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA

CC BY-SA 2.0

Image By: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA

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Copyright Notice: Photo by: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA | License Type: CC BY-SA 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0 | Uploader: File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Rhus_aromatica_(R._trilobata)_(5006725944).jpg | Notes: Uploaded own work with UploadWizard |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Rhus trilobata, commonly known as skunkbush sumac, sourberry, or three-leaf sumac, is a deciduous shrub native to a variety of habitats including chaparral, desert scrub, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and montane forests across the western half of Canada, the Western United States, and extending into northern Mexico. It thrives from low desert areas to mountain peaks up to about 7,000 feet (2,100 m) in elevation. This plant typically grows to a height of 2-5 feet and a width of 3-8 feet, featuring trifoliate leaves that emit a strong, medicinal or bitter scent when crushed, leading to the name skunkbush.

Skunkbush sumac is valued for its drought tolerance and wildlife benefits, as it provides food and cover for various animal species. The small catkins produce white or light yellow flowers that are animal-pollinated, followed by hairy, sticky red berries with a lime-like aroma and sour taste, rich in tannic and gallic acids. These berries are edible and can be used to make a lemonade-like beverage. Skunkbush sumac is often used for natural landscaping, erosion control, and as a component in restoration projects due to its ability to form thickets by vegetative reproduction. It requires full sun to part shade, low water, and well-drained soils. While generally disease-resistant, it can occasionally suffer from leaf spots or rust.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Shrub
Height: 2-5 feet
Width: 3-8 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: N/A
Flowering Season: Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Low
Drainage: Fast, Medium

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Erosion Control, Fragrant, Groundcover, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Chaparral, desert scrub, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and montane forests

Other Names

Common Names: Sourberry, Skunkbush, Squawbush, Three-Leaf Sumac

Scientific Names: , Rhus trilobata, Rhus aromatica var. trilobata, Rhus trilobata var. trilobata, Rhus aromatica subsp. trilobata, Rhus aromatica var. flabelliformis, Rhus oxyacanthoides, Schmaltzia trilobata, Schmaltzia cognata, Schmaltzia leiocarpa

GBIF Accepted Name: Rhus trilobata Nutt.