In the 1990s I worked for the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe in both Towaoc and White Mesa. I saw the elders gather the long slender stems of Sumac, peel them with their teeth, and then weave the long peelings over the stems to make redolent baskets of many shapes and sizes.

    The weavers called the plant "Willow" and when I came out with my botanical knowledge and told them that the plant really is a Sumac called "Rhus aromatica", they shouted out, "Rhoos, shmoos, this is WILLOW". They continued their weaving. So much for scientific names.

     Linnaeus utilized the classical Greek word, "Rhus", when naming this genus in 1753.  John Bartram collected the first specimens of our native American species in the Carolinas and the plant was at first named Rhus aromaticum.  Specimens collected by Thomas Nuttall in the West in the early 18th century, were named Rhus trilobata. Meriwether Lewis collected this species October 1, 1804 in South Dakota near the mouth of the Cheyenne River. Click to read why Lewis' specimen is not considered the type. 

The presently accepted name for the western and eastern species is Rhus aromatica, given by Asa Gray in 1871.

Semi-desert, foothills, montane. Woodlands, canyons. Spring.
Above: Grandstaff Canyon Trail, Utah, April 1, 2004; near Yellow Jacket Canyon, October 12, 2016, July 31, 2018, and July 29, 2020; and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, February 4, 2015.
Left: Grandstaff Canyon Trail, Utah, April 1, 2004.

Rubbing the leaves or stems of Rhus aromatica produces a lovely, aromatic pungency, not at all skunk-like, as you would think from one common name. The plant, although twisting and sprawling, is also visually appealing all year: A myriad of tiny yellow early spring flowers are followed by handsome, light green, slightly serrated leaves; then come red lemonade-tasting berries; and finally the brilliance of yellow and red fall leaves.

Branches of some Rhus aromatica plants are long and in an open, airy growth pattern; some are short, interlaced, and twisting. Compare the long, vertical branches in the top photograph on this page to the winter twisting, interlaced branches in the fourth photograph above. 

Rhus aromatica is tolerant of a wide variety of conditions, growing on rocky canyon hillsides, near streams, and in fairly arid sandy soils.  It grows slowly in the Four Corners area (unless it is near water), lives many years, and is commonly six to ten feet high and wide, half of this in the more arid high desert.

The genus was named by Linnaeus in 1753 and Aiton named the species in 1789 from plants grown in Kew Gardens from seeds collected by Bartram in "Carolina".

Following a profusion of tiny, light yellow/green flowers, comes tight clusters of hairy berries with a pleasant tart lemonade taste.  The berries make a refreshing drink for the trail when added to a water bottle.

Semi-desert, foothills, montane. Woodlands, canyons. Spring.
Near Yellowjacket Canyon, October 5, 2006.

Rhus aromatica is probably the showiest of fall shrubs in the Four Corners area.  This photograph shows a Rhus aromatica five feet high and wide.

Semi-desert, foothills, montane. Woodlands, canyons. Spring.
Near Yellowjacket Canyon, November 1, 2005 and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 27, 2010.

Rhus aromatica leaves have lovely colors both in the early spring and fall.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Rhus aromatica  

Range map for Rhus aromatica var. trilobata