Rhus Hirta Provides Brilliant Foliage Color in Autumn
Plant staghorn sumac for its wildlife value, beautiful fall color and bright red fruit that persists into winter
Not typically a go-to plant for a garden, staghorn sumac (Rhus hirta) is an eastern U.S. native shrub or tree with many underrated qualities: The flowers support a wide diversity of pollinators, the fruit provides garden interest and food for birds in late winter and early spring, and the foliage color in autumn is outstanding. It will form clonal thickets through root suckering, so it’s not suitable for small gardens.
Typical bright red fall color
Flower panicles in June
Botanical name: Rhus hirta (formerly Rhus typhina)
Common name: Staghorn sumac
Origin: Native to North America from Minnesota eastward to Maine and from Mississippi eastward to northern Georgia and eastern South Carolina; in Canada, native to southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 3 to 8; find your zone)
Typical plant communities: Woodland edges, old fields and railway right-of-ways
Botanical name: Rhus hirta (formerly Rhus typhina)
Common name: Staghorn sumac
Origin: Native to North America from Minnesota eastward to Maine and from Mississippi eastward to northern Georgia and eastern South Carolina; in Canada, native to southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 3 to 8; find your zone)
Typical plant communities: Woodland edges, old fields and railway right-of-ways
The red fruit is an important food source for birds in late winter and early spring.
A dormant branch with fine hairs resembles a stag’s horn.
Water requirement: Little to none once established; staghorn sumac is very drought-tolerant
Light requirement: Partial to full sun
Mature size: 15 to 35 feet tall and 10 feet wide
Benefits and tolerances: Tolerates most soil types; the fruit feeds birds; the flowers support pollinators
Seasonal interest: Large creamy yellow flower heads in June; bright red or orange fall foliage; large red fruit that persists into winter
When to plant: Spring or fall
Water requirement: Little to none once established; staghorn sumac is very drought-tolerant
Light requirement: Partial to full sun
Mature size: 15 to 35 feet tall and 10 feet wide
Benefits and tolerances: Tolerates most soil types; the fruit feeds birds; the flowers support pollinators
Seasonal interest: Large creamy yellow flower heads in June; bright red or orange fall foliage; large red fruit that persists into winter
When to plant: Spring or fall
Distinguishing traits. Stahorn sumac has an upright form and large cream-colored flower heads that appear in June. Its serrated, compound leaves turn orange or bright red in autumn.
This shrub or small tree spreads by root suckers and forms large thickets. It is therefore not suitable for a small landscape area.
How to use it. Stahorn sumac can be used in large landscapes to provide screening, thickets for birds or stabilization on steep slopes.
This shrub or small tree spreads by root suckers and forms large thickets. It is therefore not suitable for a small landscape area.
How to use it. Stahorn sumac can be used in large landscapes to provide screening, thickets for birds or stabilization on steep slopes.
Planting notes. Staghorn sumac is versatile and can thrive in most soil types. It is an early successional plant, taking advantage of openings or disturbances, but if it becomes shaded out by large trees, its population will decrease.
A female metallic green sweat bee (Agapostemon virescens)
Pollinator notes. The flowers are unisexual (separate male and female plants). Both male and female plants attract pollinating insects, including beetles, flies, wasps, moths, butterflies and bees.
Female bees including bumblebees (Bombus spp.), mining bees (Andrena spp.), small sweat bees (Lasioglossum spp.) and metallic green sweat bees (Agapostemon spp.) are common on male flowers collecting the flower’s pollen. Other insect visitors can be observed feeding on the nectar of either male or female flowers.
More
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Pollinator notes. The flowers are unisexual (separate male and female plants). Both male and female plants attract pollinating insects, including beetles, flies, wasps, moths, butterflies and bees.
Female bees including bumblebees (Bombus spp.), mining bees (Andrena spp.), small sweat bees (Lasioglossum spp.) and metallic green sweat bees (Agapostemon spp.) are common on male flowers collecting the flower’s pollen. Other insect visitors can be observed feeding on the nectar of either male or female flowers.
More
See more Great Design Plants with stunning red foliage
Make Your Garden a Haven for Backyard Birds