Skunkbush sumac takes its less flattering common name from the sharp, resinous scent released when its three-lobed leaves are bruised, a characteristic shared with its close relative fragrant sumac. This low, spreading deciduous shrub in the cashew family occupies thickets along canyon walls and streambanks across the arid West, rarely topping 3 feet in cultivation and spreading wider than it is tall. Hardy in zones 4 to 6, it is a plant shaped by adversity: dry, rocky soils are its native terrain, and it handles drought with a composure that most ornamental shrubs cannot match. Full sun or dappled light suits it equally well, and good drainage is the one non-negotiable.

In the garden, skunkbush fills a practical niche as a tough groundcover or low screening plant in difficult conditions. Spring flowers attract bees before much else is blooming, and the foliage turns appealing shades in fall. It serves as a larval host plant for Luna moth, a connection that elevates it beyond its modest dimensions. The alternate common name basketbush references a long history of use by Indigenous peoples who wove the pliable stems into baskets and other implements. For western native plant gardens or any site with poor, fast-draining soil and a hot summer, skunkbush delivers without complaint.