Skip to main content
← Plants for Bees
Fragrant Sumac
Fragrant Sumac botanical plate
Field guide plate · click to zoom

Fragrant Sumac

Rhus aromatica
In the United States: Native · also called fragrant sumac, aromatic sumac

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
Bloom (US) March–May
Hardiness zones3-9
Duration~2 weeks
TypePerennial
Sunpartial

Reported nearby

No reports nearby in the last 14 days.

Sign in to report this plant blooming nearby.

BeeAI — Ask the old beekeeper
Hey there, honey. Ask me anything about your bees.