Scientific Family
Anacardiaceae
Synonyms
Rhus aromatica var. trilobata
Other common names
lemonade berry
lemonade sumac
threeleaf sumac
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
Yes
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Similar species
Rhus aromatica
Size depends on available moisture. New stems are slender and hairy. Smaller shrubs form dense mounds; larger shrubs tend to be more open with arching stems.
Upright arching shrub forms round, mound-like bushes; alternate, compound leaves with 3 unstalked, lobed leaflets, somewhat wedge-shaped at the base, coarsely-toothed; small, yellowish flowers, in dense clusters, buds pink; fruits red sparsely hairy.
Height
6 feet
Width
6 feet
Habitat
Habitat description
Rocky ledges and slopes to canyon bottoms in the deserts, grasslands, chaparral, pinyon juniper woodlands, ponderosa pine forests, and riparian zones.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
2500
High elevation
7500
Leaves
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf shape
Other
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Deciduous
Green, shiny, compound leaves with 3 oval, wedge-shaped and lobed leaflets to 1-1/4 inches long. Foliage will release pungent resinous odor when crushed or rubbed against.
Flowers
Flower color
Yellow, pinkish
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
June
Yellow appearing before leaves from pink buds, to 3/4 inch wide in dense cluster on spike.
Flower clusters
Elongated
Fruit
Fruit color
Reddish-orange
Fruit type
Berry-like
Cluster of sticky, bright, reddish-orange berries.