Lacette Fragrant Sumac
Best low-maintenance shrub for gardeners seeking easy, wildlife-friendly landscape solutions.
Introducing the Lacette™ Fragrant Sumac, a native shrub prized for its dense, mounded habit and finely textured foliage. This adaptable plant offers year-round interest, supporting local wildlife like birds, bees, and butterflies. Enjoy its subtle spring flowers, striking russet-red fall color, and persistent bright red berries that last into winter. It's a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant selection perfect for sunny spots, slopes, or creating natural hedges. The Lacette™ is an easy-care solution for challenging landscapes, thriving even in tough conditions.
$31.98
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
785
/ 2609
#785 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
-19%
Below average
USDA Hardiness Zones
38
/ -
Who it's for
- Busy gardeners seeking low-maintenance, water-wise landscaping solutions
- Designers prioritizing seasonal texture and vibrant autumn color displays
- Eco-conscious homeowners looking to support local pollinators and wildlife
Who should skip it
- Gardeners maintaining strictly controlled or formal landscape beds
- Owners preferring low-effort plants that require minimal structural pruning
- Landscapers needing year-round evergreen coverage or winter garden interest
Performance breakdown
Maintenance Ease
Low-water requirements and drought tolerance make this a true set-and-forget shrub.
Wildlife Appeal
Provides essential habitat and food sources for birds and local pollinators.
Seasonal Versatility
Delivers consistent visual interest from spring blooms through winter berry persistence.
Landscape Adaptability
Thrives in challenging soil conditions and difficult sunny slopes with ease.
Growth Rate
Slow development requires patience but rewards with a dense, controlled habit.
Establishment Effort
Shipping as a potless plug necessitates careful initial planting and monitoring.
Key Specs
USDA Hardiness Zones
3-8
Mature Height
36-54 inches tall
Mature Spread
6-7 feet wide
Light Requirements
Full Sun
Foliage Type
Deciduous
Native To
North America: Eastern US
Ships As
Potless Plug
Model Number
Rhus aromatica 'Fine Textured Compact Select A' PP28669
Features
- Dense, mounded growth habit
- Finely textured, aromatic foliage
- Vibrant russet-red fall color
- Bright red berries persist into winter
- Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant
- Attracts pollinators and wildlife
- Ideal for sunny, tough sites
- Native cultivar
What customers say
Customers highly value the Lacette Fragrant Sumac for its exceptional hardiness and adaptability, making it perfect for tough spots like dry slopes. Reviewers consistently praise its aesthetic appeal, noting the glossy green summer leaves and the spectacular crimson and orange fall color that provides reliable late-season interest. Plants arrive healthy and establish quickly, showing immediate vigor. Gardeners appreciate this cultivar offers the toughness of traditional sumac in a more compact, manageable size ideal for borders. While some desire slightly larger initial stock for faster impact, the consensus is that this sumac is a low maintenance performer that thrives where others struggle. It is strongly recommended for sustainable landscaping.
Know before you buy
This shrub typically reaches a height of 36 to 54 inches and spreads between 6 and 7 feet wide. Its dense, mounded habit makes it an excellent choice for ground cover or low-growing hedges.
No, it is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant. Once established, it requires minimal watering and is well-suited for challenging sites or slopes where other plants might struggle.
Yes, this native cultivar is highly beneficial for local ecosystems. It supports pollinators like bees and butterflies in the spring and provides food for birds through its persistent red berries during the winter months.
For the best performance, plant it in a location that receives full sun. It prefers well-drained soil and is adaptable to various soil types, making it a reliable choice for tough, sunny spots.
The Lacette Fragrant Sumac is a deciduous shrub. While it loses its leaves in the winter, it offers year-round interest through its vibrant russet-red fall foliage and bright red berries that remain on the branches after the leaves have dropped.
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$32