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Great Design Tree: Staghorn Sumac
This fall superstar burns bright red and orange in the landscape — just keep an eye on its spread while you watch the show
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Don't let poison sumac (Rhus vernix) give all sumacs an undeserved bad reputation. The sumac genus has plenty of wonderful species and varieties for your landscape that greatly outnumber the poison one.
One such species is the Staghorn sumac. These trees are native to eastern North America, particularly New England, but just about every state is host to some native species of sumac. They grow fast, establish themselves very quickly and, in the right conditions, spread into thickets through their root systems.
Some of their less desirable traits for residential situations have been rectified with various cultivars, while some of the more desirable traits have been accentuated.
One such species is the Staghorn sumac. These trees are native to eastern North America, particularly New England, but just about every state is host to some native species of sumac. They grow fast, establish themselves very quickly and, in the right conditions, spread into thickets through their root systems.
Some of their less desirable traits for residential situations have been rectified with various cultivars, while some of the more desirable traits have been accentuated.
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Botanical name: Rhus typhina and other varieties
Common name: Staghorn sumac
USDA zones: 3 to 8 (find your zone)
Water requirement: While you'll want to water it for a while after you plant it, this tree is quite tolerant of dry conditions.
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: Up to 20 feet high and wide
Benefits and tolerances: These plants are very tolerant of poor soils, can survive on little water and can stand up to high winds. Sumacs are quite pest tolerant and provide food and habitat for wildlife.
Seasonal interest: Summer flowers and vibrant fall color; red berry drupes and antler-like shape of bare branches add winter interest.
When to plant: You can plant this anytime from after the last frost to about six weeks before the first frost. Planting in the fall requires the least amount of watering.
Common name: Staghorn sumac
USDA zones: 3 to 8 (find your zone)
Water requirement: While you'll want to water it for a while after you plant it, this tree is quite tolerant of dry conditions.
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Mature size: Up to 20 feet high and wide
Benefits and tolerances: These plants are very tolerant of poor soils, can survive on little water and can stand up to high winds. Sumacs are quite pest tolerant and provide food and habitat for wildlife.
Seasonal interest: Summer flowers and vibrant fall color; red berry drupes and antler-like shape of bare branches add winter interest.
When to plant: You can plant this anytime from after the last frost to about six weeks before the first frost. Planting in the fall requires the least amount of watering.
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| Distinguishing traits. Staghorn sumacs have long, compound leaves that give them a tropical look, and they bloom midsummer with 4- to 8-inch-long, greenish-yellow panicles. Full-grown plants have umbrella shapes and will colonize quickly via suckering and birds' spreading seeds. |
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These sumacs are known for their fiery fall color and clusters of red seeds. Sumacs provide some of the brightest oranges and deepest reds in the autumn landscape.
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How to use it. "I like the tropical look of the foliage and the bare trunks," says landscape designer Lori Scott. "It attains its height quickly, then doesn't get taller." Staghorn sumacs can spread like wildfire, particularly in its native East Coast habitats. Colonies of the plants are easy to grow for effective windbreaks and to stabilize steep banks, preventing erosion.
"I like this small tree in certain situations, only where it is rarely irrigated and where the root zone will not be disturbed (to limit suckering somewhat)," says Scott. "It can be invasive in some areas, but that isn't a problem in the Pacific Northwest."
"I like this small tree in certain situations, only where it is rarely irrigated and where the root zone will not be disturbed (to limit suckering somewhat)," says Scott. "It can be invasive in some areas, but that isn't a problem in the Pacific Northwest."
Hunter Ten Broek of Waterwise Landscapes in New Mexico appreciates sumac as well. "Here in the Southwest we have desert, grassland, riparian and mountain forest ecosystems, and there are a variety of sumacs that thrive in these varied conditions," he says. "I design with three-leaf sumac (Rhus trilobata) and littleleaf sumac (Rhus microphylla) for their berries and beautiful fall foliage, and because they make great screens."
Shown here: Staghorn sumac variety Rhus typhina 'Tigereye Bailtiger'. It has more intricate leaves and a rounded form that gets to be about 6 feet high and wide.
Shown here: Staghorn sumac variety Rhus typhina 'Tigereye Bailtiger'. It has more intricate leaves and a rounded form that gets to be about 6 feet high and wide.
| Tiger eyes sumac (upper right) gives a garden bright color, intricate leaves and an exotic, tropical look. |
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by Andrew Keys
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| "Prostrate and low-grow sumacs make wonderful ground covers," says Broek. "Cutleaf (Rhus typhina 'Laciniata’) and tiger eyes sumacs have intricate colorful foliage and fill in to form gorgeous thickets." Shown here: Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low' has a pleasing fragrance. |
| Planting notes. Rhus typhina can take over your yard if you're not careful, so I would not recommend planting it with the expectation of having one ornamental tree.
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Comments
designchallenged Make sure the root flare -- where the roots flare out from the trunk -- is visible. Trees planted too deeply do not thrive.
9 months ago · Like
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ladydiap Beautiful tree...but very messy and they start coming up everywhere! We had to cut ours down even though one of the prettiest tree's we had.
9 months ago · Like
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moraine Sumac berries are loaded with vitamin C and can be used to make a tasty tea (use a lot of sugar.) Our first year Tigereye sumac went from three 6" sticks last fall to a clump of six plants about 3' tall in one season - and that during the midwest's worst drought in decades!
9 months ago · Like
· 2
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victoriabee Pretty but VERY invasive - I would never voluntarily plant these unless you want to be digging them up for all eternity.
9 months ago · Like
housepeepers I like to use the mature fall berries in autumn and holiday arrangements on my steps or porch.
9 months ago · Like
JEANIE They are invasive, as several have pointed out, but omygoodness: THE most gorgeous fall show!. Just beautiful!
9 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Aug. 28, 2012.
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