Plant Details

Rhus aromatica

Lemonade bush, Lemon Sumach, Fragrant sumac

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Rhus aromatica.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your recipes.

Log in

Common names

27 names · 20 languages
EnglishYour language
  • basket bush[2]
  • Fragrant sumac[1][2]
  • Lemon Sumach
+3 more namesShow fewer names
  • Lemonade bush
  • skunk bush[2]
  • skunkbush[2]
Other languages (19)
Dutch
  • Azijnboom
  • Welriekende sumak
French
  • Sumac aromatique[2]
Armenian
  • Աղտոր բուրավետ[2]
Central Sierra Me Wuk
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 香盐麸木[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 香鹽膚木[2]
Czech
  • škumpa aromatická[2]
Estonian
  • lõhnav sumahh[2]
Finnish
  • tuoksusumakki[2]
German
  • Duftender Sumach[2]
Mvskoke
  • hoyvnēcv-rakko[2]
Ojibwe
  • Baakwaanibag, Bokkwan'ibok[2]
Polish
  • sumak aromatyczny[2]
Russian
  • Сумах душистый[2]
Slovak
  • sumach voňavý[2]
Spanish
  • agrito[2]
  • Zumaque apestoso[2]
Tongva
Turkish
  • kokulu sumak[2]
Ukrainian
  • Сумах духмяний[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Rhus aromatica Aiton ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Fragrant sumac — VernacularName.tsv, line 172969; taxon 4SMXR.
[2] Rhus aromatica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • fragrant sumac — results[1].names[0]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • skunk bush — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • agrito — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • sumac aromatique — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • basket bush — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • tsameesh — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • Zumaque apestoso — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • skunkbush — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • škumpa aromatická — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • Сумах душистый — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • kokulu sumak — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • Baakwaanibag, Bokkwan'ibok — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • Աղտոր բուրավետ — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • sumak aromatyczny — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • lõhnav sumahh — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • 香盐麸木 — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • 香鹽膚木 — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • Duftender Sumach — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • tuoksusumakki — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • hoyvnēcv-rakko — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • sumach voňavý — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • Tah-mah — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.
  • Сумах духмяний — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 58738; Rhus aromatica.

General information

Scientific name: Rhus aromatica
Accepted name (Kew): Rhus aromatica Aiton View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Anacardiaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Rhus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Lemonade bush, Lemon Sumach, Fragrant sumac
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.61–1.83 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 1.83–3.05 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Slow
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Creeping, Erect, Mounding, Multi-stemmed, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Oil, Seed
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Wickerwork, Dye, Oil, Fragrant

Description

The fruits of this plant are small and have little pulp, but they are easy to harvest. They can be eaten raw or cooked. For a refreshing lemonade-like drink, the fruits can be soaked in cold or hot water for 10 to 30 minutes. It is important not to boil this drink, as that releases tannins, which give a too sharp taste. The fruits can also be dried and then ground into powder. This powder can be mixed with cornmeal and used in baking recipes, porridge, and more.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 148593; name ID 2420929; Rhus L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 148548; name ID 2420828; Rhus aromatica Aiton.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Rhus aromatica

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1139899, ID 4SMXR: Rhus aromatica Aiton (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Rhus aromatica — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .