By Karen Vanderwall
Every fall as I walk around the natural areas near my home, I am pleasantly surprised by the splash of red color that the sumac reveals among the subtle colors of shrubs and grasses. Seeing the narrow red tell-tale leaves of the common Smooth Sumac, I have wondered if there are other sumacs native to Colorado. So, let me introduce you to another native sumac that is just as beautiful, at home on the Front Range, and important for wildlife: The Three-Leaf Sumac, Rhus trilobata, also known as skunkbush or fragrant sumac.
(Photo by © blueskygirl, iNaturalist)
The Three-Leaf Sumac is a great shrub for the native Colorado gardener for so many reasons. It is medium sized with a nice round shape and multiple stems, reaching 4 to 6 feet in height and width at maturity. This sumac is native to the plains and foothills regions of Colorado, as well as the plateau region of the Western Slope, growing between 3500 and 9000 feet in elevation. It grows in USDA hardiness zones of 4 through 8. The Three-Leaf Sumac reproduces mostly through seeds but also by rhizomes, which can create a thicket. And, as a native to this area with a deep tap root, it requires low supplemental water (waterwise) and is drought tolerant. So important!
Why do we love native plants? As typical of native shrubs, the Three-Leaf Sumac evolved in the climate, soils, and environmental conditions of Colorado. So as long as it is correctly sited, it can be a perfect shrub for a sustainable landscape, reducing the need for water, fertilizer and pruning. And all the while attracting wildlife and increasing biodiversity!
The leaves of this species of sumac have, as you may have guessed, three leaflets that make up a single leaf. The deep green glossy leaves turn a spectacular red-orange in the fall. They produce small, pale greenish-yellow flower spikes and clusters of small red berries. Be aware that the plant is typically dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. Male shrubs will not produce berries.
Rhus trilobata provides food and habitat for many types of wildlife. Its berries are a vital food source for resident and migratory birds alike such as songbirds, quail and turkeys, and for small mammals, especially in the winter. Rabbits eat the bark and deer eat the twigs and leaves of the Three-Leaf Sumac. Being multi-stemmed, it creates great cover for wildlife both as a single shrub or as a thicket when planted en masse. Further, it can flourish under severe deer grazing.
It is worth mentioning that because of its multi-stem growth habit, the Three-Leaf Sumac can act as a windbreak and with its deep roots along with rhizomes, it could be a good choice to stabilize an area prone to erosion.
As of this writing, several sources carry the Three-Leaf Sumac such as Conservation Districts and through mail order. I am looking forward to planting one this spring!
References:
Native Shrubs for Colorado landscapes; Fact Sheet 7.422 Gardening Series: Trees and Shrubs, CSU Extension.
Colorado Plant Database, Native Plant Master Program, Colorado State University Extension.