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Fragrant Sumac
Fragrant Sumac botanical plate
Field guide plate · click to zoom

Fragrant Sumac

Rhus aromatica

Honeybees visit fragrant sumac primarily for its early-season pollen to support brood rearing after winter. Peak bloom occurs in April to May, providing a brief but valuable forage window in spring. This shrub forms dense thickets that offer nesting habitat for ground-nesting bees and is deer-resistant, though it spreads via rhizomes and may require space in managed landscapes.

Nectarlow
Pollenmedium
BloomApril–May
USDA zones3-9
TypePerennial
Sunpartial
NativeEastern North America
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