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Young deciduous shrub with bright green leaves in a large black nursery pot, thin reddish stems, outdoors among other pots.

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Young shrub with bright lime-green, serrated leaves in a nursery pot, showing new growth in sunlight

Gro-Low Sumac

Brilliant Fall Color
Low Spreading Habit
Native Slope Coverage

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#3 Container

$55.00

56 in stock

#7 Container

$86.00

2 in stock

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Gro-Low Sumac

Sunlight
Can grow in a range from full sun to partial shade. They need at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day.
Watering
Regular watering schedule for the first six months. Once established, rainwater should be sufficient.
Fertilizing
Should not need any extra fertilizer unless your entire lawn and garden have problems and needs regular fertilizing.

Gro-Low Sumac

Gro-Low Sumac is a low-growing native deciduous shrub valued for glossy green foliage, yellow spring flowers, red summer fruit, and brilliant orange-red fall color. Its spreading habit makes it excellent for slopes, banks, mass plantings, erosion-prone areas, and naturalized borders.

Why choose Gro-Low Sumac?

Choose Gro-Low Sumac for durable, low-maintenance coverage with outstanding seasonal color. This fragrant sumac cultivar stays lower than many sumacs while spreading broadly, making it useful as a shrub-like groundcover in sunny landscapes. It brings early spring flowers, attractive three-part leaves, wildlife-friendly fruit on female plants, and a rich fall display. Its adaptability to leaner soils and open sites makes it especially practical for slopes, large beds, and informal native-style plantings.

Key Characteristics

Botanical Name: Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’
Common Name: Gro-Low Sumac
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Growth Habit: Low, spreading, suckering groundcover shrub

Gro-Low Sumac Additional Information

Gro-Low Sumac is a compact selection of fragrant sumac, known for forming a broad, dense mat of stems and foliage. Small yellow flower clusters appear in early spring before or as the leaves emerge. The foliage is glossy green through spring and summer, with leaflets that release a light citrus-like scent when crushed. Female plants may produce small red fruit clusters in late summer, which can add wildlife value and seasonal interest.

This shrub is deciduous, so it drops its leaves in winter and returns with fresh growth in spring. Its strongest ornamental moment often comes in fall, when the foliage turns bright shades of orange, red, burgundy, and reddish purple. Gro-Low Sumac is especially effective on banks, slopes, parking lot edges, naturalized borders, and large sunny beds where a tough, spreading plant is needed. Prune selectively in late winter or early spring to remove damaged stems or manage spread.

Planting & Care

1. Planting: Plant Gro-Low Sumac in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil. Set the root ball level with the surrounding grade, backfill with native soil, and water thoroughly to settle the planting area.

2. Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to help roots establish. Once established, Gro-Low Sumac handles average to dry conditions well, though deep watering is helpful during extended dry spells.

3. Mulching: Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the root zone to conserve moisture and reduce competition from weeds. Keep mulch pulled back slightly from the crown of the plant.

4. Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring to remove damaged stems, thin excess growth, or control spreading where needed. For rejuvenation, older stems can be cut back selectively.

Related Resources

FAQs

How big does Gro-Low Sumac get?
Gro-Low Sumac typically grows about 2–3 feet tall and spreads 6–8 feet wide over time, making it useful as a low shrub or broad groundcover.
Does Gro-Low Sumac have fall color?
Yes. Gro-Low Sumac is known for excellent fall foliage, often turning shades of orange, red, burgundy, and reddish-purple depending on sun exposure and seasonal conditions.
Where should Gro-Low Sumac be planted?
Gro-Low Sumac works well on sunny slopes, banks, large borders, native gardens, and naturalized areas where its wide-spreading habit has room to develop.

Shipping Details

Estimated Shipping Time: Most orders ship immediately. As noted on the website, some items are seasonal, and may only ship in spring or fall. Once your order is shipped, you’ll receive an email with a tracking number.

Amount of Order	Shipping Charge
Local Delivery	FREE SHIPPING
Non-Local Delivery	Varies based on UPS shipping

Lush Foliage
Full Sun
Plant Spacing

Mature Height	3-10'
Mature Spread	5-10 ft
Growth Rate	Fast, Moderate
Bloom Time	Mid spring, Early Spring
Botanical Name	Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low'
Deer Resistant	Usually
Family	Anacardiaceae
Flower Color	Yellow/Orange
Hardiness Zones	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Light Needs	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Maintenance	Low
Size	#3 Container, #7 Container

Green map of the United States with state boundaries outlined in black, all states shaded in green, on a white background.

Growing Zones 3-9 Outdoors

(Hardy down to -40)

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