Rhus trilobata: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Native Americans valued the plant for its astringent qualities. The fruits were eaten for stomach ailments and tooth aches and were dried and ground into a paste used to treat smallpox.
Plant Profile: Rhus trilobata
Taxonomy: Rhus trilobataNames
Aromatic Sumac, Basketbush, Fragrant Sumac, Ill-scented Sumac, Skunkbush, Skunkbush Sumac
Phonetic Spelling:RHOOS try-lo-BAY-tuh
Genus:Rhus
Species:trilobata
Family:Anacardiaceae
Skunkbush is a low-growing deciduous shrub belonging to the cashew family. It typically thrives in thickets, canyon slopes, and along streambanks. For optimal growth, it should be planted in areas with full or partial sunlight and in well-drained soil, as it can withstand dry, rocky conditions.
Rhus trilobata Feature Summary
Tags
#deciduous
#wildlife plant
#moths
#deciduous shrub
#cover plant
#slopes
#stream banks
#food source
#nighttime garden
#thickets
#nesting sites
#larval host plant
#nectar plant spring
#malodorus
#dry soils tolerant
#moth larvae
#bee friendly
Similar Plants
Rhus trilobata Feature Summary
Attributes
Native Americans valued the plant for its astringent qualities. The fruits were eaten for stomach ailments and tooth aches and were dried and ground into a paste used to treat smallpox.
North America
AR , AZ , CA , CO , ID , KS , MD , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , OK , OR , SD , TX , UT , WY. Alberta, Mexico
Provides food and cover for songbirds, game birds, large and small mammals. It provides structure and materials for nesting bees and the flowers are pollinated by bees. Larval host plant for the Luna moth.
Woody
Fruit
Flowers
Dioecious meaning some plants are male and some are female.
Panicle
Spring
Leaves
Small trifolate leaves that have an unpleasant skunk-like fragrance
Deciduous
Green
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Alternate
Lobed
Serrate
Fragrant
Stem
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Very Dry
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Nighttime Garden
Screen/Privacy
Security
Dry Soil
Woodland
Slope/Bank
Riparian
Pollinators
Songbirds
Bees
Moths
Small Mammals
Rhus trilobata Image Gallery
Rhus trilobata Attributes
Rhus trilobata: Country Or Region Of Origin
North America
Rhus trilobata: Distribution
AR , AZ , CA , CO , ID , KS , MD , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , OK , OR , SD , TX , UT , WY. Alberta, Mexico
Rhus trilobata: Wildlife Value
Provides food and cover for songbirds, game birds, large and small mammals. It provides structure and materials for nesting bees and the flowers are pollinated by bees. Larval host plant for the Luna moth.
Rhus trilobata: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Rhus trilobata Fruit
Rhus trilobata: Fruit Description
Crimson sticky berries
Rhus trilobata: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Rhus trilobata: Fruit Color
Red/Burgundy
Rhus trilobata Flowers
Rhus trilobata: Flower Description
Dioecious meaning some plants are male and some are female.
Rhus trilobata: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Rhus trilobata: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Rhus trilobata Leaves
Rhus trilobata: Leaf Description
Small trifolate leaves that have an unpleasant skunk-like fragrance
Rhus trilobata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Rhus trilobata: Leaf Color
Green
Rhus trilobata: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Rhus trilobata: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Rhus trilobata: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Rhus trilobata: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Rhus trilobata: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Rhus trilobata Stem
Rhus trilobata: Stem Description
Stems are fuzzy
Rhus trilobata: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Rhus trilobata: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Rhus trilobata Whole Plant Traits
Rhus trilobata: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Rhus trilobata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Rhus trilobata: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Rhus trilobata Cultural Conditions
Rhus trilobata: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Rhus trilobata: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Rhus trilobata: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Rhus trilobata: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Rhus trilobata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
Rhus trilobata: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Rhus trilobata Landscape
Rhus trilobata: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Rhus trilobata: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Rhus trilobata: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Rhus trilobata: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Rhus trilobata: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
