Rhus typhina
Staghorn sumac
Common names: Velvet sumac
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Hardy
- Pruning
- Feb–Mar
- Flowering
- Jun–Jul
Description
The staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) is distinguished by its velvety, hairy branches and its candle‑shaped, bright red fruiting capsules that persist through winter. In autumn the feathery foliage turns a vivid orange to fiery red, making it a striking ornamental shrub. Over time it develops vigorous root runners that can spread rapidly, becoming a space problem in small gardens. The plant’s sap is acidic and sticky; it can irritate sensitive skin, so gloves are recommended when pruning and children should avoid handling fresh cut surfaces.
Care instructions
Plant in a sunny to partially shaded spot with well‑drained soil; the plant is not demanding of nutrients. Regularly dig up or contain runners in spring and summer to prevent spread. It tolerates pruning well, preferably in late winter before bud break; it will vigorously regrow in spring (week 12 to 15). Water newly planted specimens regularly during the first year, then the plant copes well with longer dry periods.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringJun–Jul
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, lean, sandy, dry
The staghorn sumac loves free-draining, rather poor soil and tolerates drought surprisingly well. It does not like waterlogging at all, so never plant it in a hollow without drainage. On nutrient-rich, moist soils, on the other hand, it sends out root suckers all the more vigorously.
Feeding
Light feeder
The staghorn sumac needs practically no feeding and does well even on barren sites. A thin mulch layer of leaves or bark compost in spring is quite enough. Extra nutrients encourage the growth of the troublesome root suckers rather than that of the plant itself.
Pruning
Prune the staghorn sumac in late winter before new growth if you want to steer its habit. A radical cutback encourages strong but sparse new growth, which you can use well to keep it compact. It is best to remove unwanted root suckers continuously through the year so that it does not spread unchecked.
Overwintering
The staghorn sumac is fully hardy in Central Europe and needs no protection. Young plants in their first winter appreciate a layer of mulch over the root zone. Specimens kept in pots are best placed against a house wall, sheltered and frost-free.
Propagation
Methods
- From seed
- Cuttings
- Runners
The easiest way to propagate the staghorn sumac is by the root suckers it forms in abundance: simply cut them off with a spade and replant them. Root cuttings in winter also take reliably. Sowing works too, but takes longer and needs a cold period to germinate. Softwood cuttings in summer are possible, but root more slowly.
For your garden
Grow Staghorn sumac yourself
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