Three-Leaf Sumac
Rhus trilobata
Shrub
Bloom
April — May
Color
Pale Yellow
Height
36—72 inches
Spread
48—96 inches
Sun
Full sun to partial shade (4—6 hours)
Water
Very low — no supplemental water once established
Also called skunkbush, this Front Range foothills native is the direct swap for burning bush (Euonymus alatus) — it delivers the same scarlet-to-orange fall color with no supplemental water once established. Small yellow flowers open before the leaves in spring, followed by red drupes that birds work through in late summer. It takes shearing if you want it tidier and holds a hedge form well. The dwarf cultivar 'Autumn Amber' stays under 2 feet where you need something low and spreading.
Growing conditions
- Soil: Well-draining, rocky/sandy — tolerates poor soil
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade (4—6 hours)
- Water: Very low — no supplemental water once established
- Drought tolerance: Excellent
- Hardiness: Colorado native / adapted · USDA Zones 4–7
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value: High — early nectar for native bees, red drupes for birds
- Landscape use: Informal hedges, slope stabilization, fall color, wildlife habitat, foundation plantings.
Want Three-Leaf Sumac in your yard?
Xeris designs and installs native plant xeriscapes across Denver and the Front Range. We'll walk your site, assess soil and sun, and build a plan that thrives.
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