This low-laying ground cover is a member of the cashew family. In early spring, small yellow flowers appear before the foliage arrives. When crushed, the leaf has a pleasant lemon scent. The fruits are hairy and ripen to a bright red. Sumac can be harvested for culinary purposes and is commonly used in Iranian cuisine as a spice. The fruit can also used to make pink lemonade by steeping it in water on a hot summer day.
