Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)

Staghorn Sumac

(Rhus typhina)

Daniel Fuchs

CC BY-SA 2.5

Image By: Daniel Fuchs

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Daniel Fuchs | License Type: CC BY-SA 2.5 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5 | Uploader: Daniel Fuchs | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Daniel_Fuchs.CC-BY-SA.Rhus_typhina.JPG | Notes: Photo of ''[[Ribes malvaceum]]'' var. ''veridifolium'' [[Regional Parks Botanic Garden]], Berkeley, California, taken April 2007 by [[User:Stan Shebs]] {{Stan Shebs photo}} |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Rhus typhina, commonly known as Staghorn Sumac, is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to open woodlands and forest edges in eastern North America, including southeastern Canada, the northeastern and midwestern United States, and the Appalachian Mountains. It typically grows to a height of 15-25 feet and a width of 20-30 feet, with a spreading, open form that can be quite striking. The compound leaves turn a vibrant red-orange in the fall, making it a popular choice for bright fall foliage. Its velvety branches resemble the antlers of a young stag, hence the name. The plant produces pyramidal clusters of small greenish-yellow flowers in the summer, which are followed by red, hairy fruits that persist into winter and are attractive to wildlife.

Staghorn Sumac is valued for its ease of maintenance and its ability to thrive in a range of conditions, including dry and poor soils where other plants may struggle. It is often used in naturalistic plantings, as a border shrub, or for erosion control on slopes. While it can be aggressive due to its suckering habit, this can be managed with regular pruning. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and can tolerate a range of soil drainage conditions. However, its potential invasiveness should be considered before planting outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Shrub, Tree
Height: 15-25 feet
Width: 20-30 feet
Growth Rate: Rapid
Flower Color: Yellow, Green
Flowering Season: Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Low, Medium
Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Erosion Control, Fire Resistant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant

Natural Habitat

Open woodlands and forest edges

Other Names

Common Names: Virginia Sumac, Stag’s Horn Sumach, Velvet Sumac, Vinegar Tree, Kolben-Sumach, Essigbaum, Sumac Amarante, Sumac Devirginie, Sumac Amaranthe, Sumac Vinaigrier

Scientific Names: , Rhus typhina, Rhus hirta, Rhus hirta f. typhina, Rhus typhina var. laciniata, Rhus typhina f. dissecta, Rhus gracilis, Rhus typhia, Datisca hirta, Rhus typhina f. laciniata

GBIF Accepted Name: Rhus typhina L.