{"product_id":"gro-low-sumac","title":"Gro-Low Sumac","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Tough Native Groundcover Shrub With Fiery Fall Color\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGro-Low Sumac (\u003cem\u003eRhus aromatica\u003c\/em\u003e 'Gro-Low') is a rugged, low-spreading native shrub that solves tough problems with ease — a 2-foot-tall, wide-spreading carpet of glossy, aromatic green foliage that blazes brilliant orange-red in fall. Small yellow spring flowers feed early pollinators and give way to red fruit for birds. Exceptionally drought-tough and deer-resistant, it's the go-to for covering slopes, banks, and hot, dry, hard-to-plant areas in Edina, Woodbury, and Maple Grove.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGro-Low Sumac Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRhus aromatica 'Gro-Low'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 ft. tall, 6–8 ft. wide\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness Zone\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a — fully hardy)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloom Time\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEarly spring (small yellow flowers)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable — thrives in poor, dry, lean soil; excellent on slopes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40°F — a tough native\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRarely browsed by deer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNative Status\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelection of native fragrant sumac\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFall Color\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrilliant orange-red\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eLandscape Uses in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSlope and erosion cover:\u003c\/strong\u003e Its wide-spreading, low habit is one of the best native groundcovers for holding soil on banks and slopes. Space 4–6 feet apart for coverage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHot, dry, tough sites:\u003c\/strong\u003e Thrives where lawn and most shrubs fail — boulevards, parking strips, and lean soil. The aromatic foliage and fiery fall color are bonuses. Pair with native grasses and junipers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant in spring (late April–May) or early fall (late August–mid September). Very adaptable; water through establishment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Gro-Low Sumac\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDig a hole twice the root ball width at the same depth. Set the crown level, backfill, water well, and mulch 2–3 inches deep. Space 4–6 feet apart on slopes for a weed-suppressing cover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Gro-Low Sumac\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFirst year:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water every 2–3 days at first, then weekly while roots establish. Stop 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAfter year one:\u003c\/strong\u003e Exceptionally drought-tolerant — little to no supplemental water once established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Is it good for slopes?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExcellent — its low, wide-spreading roots make it one of the best native shrubs for stabilizing banks and slopes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Is it native?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes — fragrant sumac is a Minnesota native, valued for wildlife, erosion control, and brilliant fall color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Will it survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEasily — hardy well below Twin Cities lows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Is it deer-resistant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes — deer rarely browse sumac, and the aromatic foliage helps deter them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCutleaf Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina):\u003c\/strong\u003e A taller native sumac with ferny foliage and fiery fall color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMassachusetts Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi):\u003c\/strong\u003e A native evergreen groundcover for dry, sandy sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLittle Bluestem (Schizachyrium):\u003c\/strong\u003e A native grass for slopes and prairie plantings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Gro-Low Sumac Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor slopes and groundcover beds, space Gro-Low Sumac about 5 feet apart (4–6 ft) — each plant spreads 6–8 feet wide, so the planting knits into a solid weed-suppressing carpet within a few seasons:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eRun Length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePlants Needed (≈5 ft spacing)\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn steeper banks, plant in staggered rows about 5 feet apart each way so the roots lock the whole slope in place faster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eGro-Low Sumac Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small yellow flowers open in early spring before the leaves fully emerge — one of the first native nectar sources for emerging pollinators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A dense, glossy green carpet of aromatic three-part leaves shrugs off heat and drought; fuzzy red fruit clusters form on female plants and draw songbirds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e The whole planting ignites in brilliant orange-red — among the most reliable fall color of any native groundcover shrub.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leaves drop to reveal a low, dense woody framework that keeps gripping the slope all winter; hardy to -40°F with zero protection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Minnesota Native   ✔ Pollinator-Friendly   ✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/tiger-eyes-cutleaf-staghorn-sumac\"\u003eTiger Eyes Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac\u003c\/a\u003e — the taller cousin: chartreuse ferny foliage above, Gro-Low carpeting the ground below.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/massachusetts-bearberry\"\u003eMassachusetts Bearberry\u003c\/a\u003e — native evergreen groundcover that handles the same dry, sandy, sunny sites and adds winter green.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/little-bluestem\"\u003eLittle Bluestem\u003c\/a\u003e — native prairie grass whose blue summer blades and copper fall color echo the sumac's fiery show.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/grey-owl-juniper\"\u003eGrey Owl Juniper\u003c\/a\u003e — silvery evergreen spreader for the same hot, dry banks; together they cover ground year-round.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Gro-Low Sumac Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSay yes if you have a hot, dry, sunny-to-part-shade problem spot — a bank, boulevard, or lean rocky soil — where you want a tough, deer-proof native that covers ground and stops erosion with almost no care. It's not a fit if you need a tidy, compact shrub for a small formal bed: each plant spreads 6–8 feet wide and is happiest when allowed to roam.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54313055846705,"sku":null,"price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54313055879473,"sku":null,"price":31.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/gro-low-sumac.jpg?v=1779727885","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/gro-low-sumac","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}