Tiger Eyes sumac is our Plant of the Week for the 4th week of April. This small tree or large shrub is a cultivar of our native staghorn sumac, Rhus typhina. Staghorn sumacs are native across the Midwest and up into Canada. The native staghorn grows 8 to 15 feet tall and wide.
Tiger Eyes was selected for its leaf color and dwarfish habits. While it is smaller than the straight species of staghorn, it still grows 10 feet tall and wide. The leaf color is bright chartreuse, which helps it stand out in the garden. I liken it to a gold beacon in the garden.
Even though this is a cultivar, it still retains many of the characteristics of its parent. It likes to spread moderately by rhizomes, making a large clump. The fall color is excellent on this plant, with deep oranges to reds. Despite having ornamental fruit, it rarely flowers and sets seedheads.
Staghorn sumacs biggest pest problems are stem borers, a type of beetle whose larvae feed in the stems. A spring treatment of a systemic insecticide is recommended on older plants to prevent borer damage.
I recommend planting sumacs where they can be viewed as specimen plants. They can be planted under power lines or next to the house if need be. The winter stems have a fuzzy appearance. You may want to plant 3 together in a mass for the biggest impact.
You can find Tiger Eyes sumac for sale at our garden centers in Nebraska City or Hiawatha, KS. Or go online to our webstore and shop.
Happy Planting!
