Tiger Eye Sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’) is an ornamental shrub known for its striking foliage. Its fern-like leaves emerge chartreuse in spring, turn vibrant yellow, and display brilliant orange and scarlet in autumn. While generally resilient, Tiger Eye Sumac can face challenges. Understanding these issues and their remedies helps gardeners maintain the plant’s health and beauty.
Pest Problems
Tiger Eye Sumac can be affected by insect pests. Aphids often cluster on new growth, causing leaves to curl, yellow, or distort. Their feeding produces honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold. A strong water spray can dislodge aphids.
Scale insects appear as small bumps on stems and leaves, feeding on sap and causing stunted growth and leaf discoloration. Horticultural oil or insecticidal soap can smother them. Spider mites, tiny arachnids, are another issue, especially in hot, dry conditions, causing fine stippling and sometimes webbing. Hosing down foliage regularly helps manage spider mites.
Disease Problems
While generally disease-resistant, Tiger Eye Sumac can develop fungal issues, especially with high humidity or poor air circulation. Powdery mildew appears as a white coating on leaves and stems, often causing distorted growth or premature leaf drop. Good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering help prevent its spread.
Leaf spot diseases manifest as dark, irregular spots on foliage. Removing affected leaves reduces spread. Cankers, sunken, discolored areas on stems or branches, often result from wounds or stress. Prune affected branches back to healthy wood to prevent further spread.
Environmental Stress Problems
Environmental factors can impact Tiger Eye Sumac health. Drought stress causes leaves to wilt, turn crispy, and drop prematurely during dry periods. Provide consistent, deep watering to prevent this.
Sun scorch can occur in intense sun, especially on new or stressed plants, resulting in browning or bleaching of leaf margins. While sumac thrives in full sun, adequate moisture helps. Winter damage, like tip dieback or stem cracking, affects plants in cold or exposed locations. Proper site selection and winter protection for young plants minimize cold injury. Overwatering, particularly in poorly drained soils, leads to root rot, causing yellowing leaves, wilting, and plant decline.
Growth and Spreading Challenges
The most distinctive challenge of Tiger Eye Sumac is its tendency to sucker and spread through underground rhizomes. While the ‘Bailtiger’ cultivar is less aggressive than the species, it can still produce new shoots, or suckers, several feet from the main plant. This suckering habit can form unwanted thickets, potentially invading other garden beds or turf.
Regular removal of suckers as they emerge is an effective management strategy. Severing them below the soil line reduces their vigor. For persistent issues or strict containment, installing a root barrier around the planting area prevents rhizomes from spreading. Choosing an appropriate planting site where its spreading nature can be managed is also important.
Preventative Measures and Solutions
Proactive care is the most effective way to prevent Tiger Eye Sumac problems. Proper site selection is key; the plant thrives in well-drained soil and prefers full sun for optimal color, though it tolerates partial shade. Well-drained soil prevents waterlogging and root issues.
Correct planting techniques, including digging a wide hole and ensuring the root flare is at or slightly above the soil line, promote healthy root development. Consistent watering, especially during establishment and dry periods, supports robust growth without encouraging root rot. Pruning dead, damaged, or diseased branches improves air circulation and reduces pathogen entry points. A healthy, well-maintained sumac is more resilient to pests, diseases, and environmental stressors.