Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina), commonly known as “Stagwood,” is a distinctive plant that adds visual interest to landscapes. Its velvety branches and vibrant seasonal foliage create a striking appearance. This deciduous shrub or small tree is valued for its architectural form and adaptability, providing year-round appeal.
Understanding Staghorn Sumac
Distinctive Features
Staghorn Sumac is identified by its branches, covered in dense, reddish-brown fuzz resembling a stag’s antlers. Its large, pinnately compound leaves, up to 24 inches long, have numerous serrated leaflets that are dark green above and paler underneath. In autumn, these leaves turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and purple.
In late spring to early summer, it produces compact clusters of small, greenish-yellow flowers. Female plants then develop showy, pyramidal fruiting clusters of fuzzy, crimson, berry-like drupes. These vibrant fruit clusters persist through winter, offering visual interest and a food source for wildlife. Its growth habit is multi-stemmed, open, and often irregular.
Natural Habitat and Hardiness
Staghorn Sumac is native to eastern North America. It thrives in open fields, woodland edges, roadsides, and disturbed areas, preferring sunny locations. It adapts to various soil conditions, including dry, rocky, or gravelly soils, tolerating a wide range of pH levels.
It is cold hardy, growing in USDA zones 3 through 8. Its resilience extends to harsh conditions like drought and urban pollution. While it prefers full sun for optimal growth and fall color, it tolerates partial shade.
Cultivating Staghorn Sumac
Planting and Site Selection
Selecting an appropriate site is important for cultivating Staghorn Sumac. It performs best in full sun, though it tolerates partial shade. It adapts to a wide range of soil types, including sandy, clay, or poor soils; good drainage is crucial to prevent root rot.
For planting, dig a hole slightly wider and deeper than the root ball. Position the plant at the same depth as its nursery container, then backfill with soil and water thoroughly. Due to its spreading nature via root suckers, consider spacing plants or choosing a location where its spread can be managed, such as near a paved area.
Essential Care
Once established, Staghorn Sumac is low-maintenance. It is drought-tolerant, requiring minimal watering after establishment. During the first growing season, consistent watering encourages a strong root system. After this, regular rainfall usually suffices, but occasional watering during extended dry spells maintains vigor.
Fertilization is generally not required for mature plants, especially in fertile soil. For young plants or those in less fertile conditions, a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring promotes robust growth. Organic options like compost or well-rotted organic matter also improve soil structure and provide nutrients.
Pruning for Health and Shape
Pruning Staghorn Sumac maintains its shape and health. The optimal time for pruning is late winter or early spring, before new leaves emerge and while the plant is dormant. This minimizes stress and allows for better visibility.
Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches to promote overall plant health. Thin crowded branches to improve air circulation. For shaping or rejuvenating older plants, make more significant cuts to remove branches growing beyond the desired form. Use sharp pruning shears for clean cuts.
Advantages and Management
Staghorn Sumac offers several landscape advantages. Its ornamental appeal includes vibrant fall foliage, unique branch structure, and persistent, fuzzy red fruit clusters that provide winter interest. Its open, spreading habit creates a naturalized look, fitting informal garden designs.
It also provides ecological benefits. Its fruit serves as a winter food source for many bird species. Flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, contributing to biodiversity. Its extensive root system is effective for erosion control, especially on slopes or challenging sites.
Despite its benefits, Staghorn Sumac is known for its vigorous suckering habit, which can lead to aggressive spreading and dense thickets. This makes it less suitable for small, formal gardens unless actively managed. Control strategies include regular removal of suckers by mowing or manually pulling them.
For contained growth, planting near paved surfaces can limit spread, as suckers are less likely to emerge through hardscapes. Another method is installing root barriers to restrict lateral growth. Alternatively, in large properties or naturalized landscapes where spread is not a concern, the plant can form colonies freely, creating a robust, low-maintenance planting.