Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging Fragrant Sumac

Rhus aromatica

Typically in season from April to June in the northern hemisphere. Found in Scrub & hedgerows, Woodland edges, Grassland. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)

Photo: (c) Catherine C. Galley, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Catherine C. Galley · iNaturalist

When Fragrant Sumac is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak April to June. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

Where it grows

Fragrant Sumac is usually found in Scrub & hedgerows, Woodland edges, Grassland.

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Toxic look-alikes: poison ivy, Atlantic poison oak, Pacific poison oak. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take Fragrant Sumac into the field

Open Fragrant Sumac in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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Fragrant Sumac: common questions

When is Fragrant Sumac in season?

Fragrant Sumac is generally in season from April to June in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Where does Fragrant Sumac grow?

Fragrant Sumac is usually found in Scrub & hedgerows, Woodland edges, Grassland.

Is Fragrant Sumac safe to forage?

Toxic look-alikes: poison ivy, Atlantic poison oak, Pacific poison oak. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits