‘Gro-low’ is a cultivated variety of our native Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica). This selection is a female cultivar, able to produce fuzzy, ruby-red fruits if a source of male pollen is present. It was selected for its shorter, more compact size that tops out at 2-3′ in height and spreads 6-8′ wide. Like the straight species, it excels at stabilizing slopes and embankments and thrives in poor, dry soils where other plants have trouble getting established. This is an excellent, low-maintenance, trouble-free choice of groundcover for barrier plantings or informal hedges. It has moderate salt tolerance, making it a valuable option for planting near sidewalks, streets, and parking areas. The fall color is very attractive with many shades of orange and red.
Sources:
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael A. Dirr
Missouri Botanical Garden
The Morton Arboretum
