Staghorn sumac

Staghorn sumac: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Broad shrub or small tree, up to about 4 m tall and 5 m wide, often with several stems and a broad, flat crown.

Branches

Thick and sparsely branched, covered in reddish-brown velvety hairs. A wound releases a milky sap.

Leaves

Pinnate, 30–60 cm long, with 11–31 toothed leaflets; orange, scarlet and yellow in autumn.

Flower

Upright panicles of small greenish-yellow flowers in June–July. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants.

Fruit

On female plants, dense, cone-shaped clusters of hairy, dark red fruits that last well into winter.

Roots

Shallow and far-reaching. Any damage prompts them to send up new suckers.

Flowering: June–July · Plants: March–April and October–November · Pruning: February–March

Why grow it?

• One of the brightest autumn colours in the garden, in orange, red and yellow.
• Attractive in winter too: bare, velvety branches and, on female plants, dark red fruit clusters.
• Grows fast and takes on an exotic-looking parasol shape within a few years.
• Drought-tolerant and unfussy: grows even on poor sandy, loamy or clay soil.
• Bees visit the greenish-yellow flower panicles in June–July.

Staghorn sumac: where does it grow best?

• Full sun gives the best autumn colour.
• Any well-drained soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky.
• Dry to moderately moist; it dislikes waterlogged soil.
• Give it a clear space at least 5 m wide, away from borders and patios, or plant it in a lawn where mowing removes the suckers.
• A fairly sheltered spot stops the brittle branches snapping in storms.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Dry or normal

Size

4 m tall, 5 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -35 °C)

Goes well with

• Miscanthus: Tall, swaying plumes beside the exotic leaves, and a fine winter silhouette.
• Ice plant: Pink flower heads in late summer and, like the sumac, drought-tolerant.
• Michaelmas daisy: Purple and blue flowers that stand out against the red autumn colour.
• Purple coneflower: Pink flowers in late summer in the same sunny spot, also good for bees.

Staghorn sumac: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and October–November.

1. Plant in March–April or October–November.
2. Choose the final position straight away: after moving, the roots left behind sucker profusely.
3. Dig a generous hole and, in a small garden, sink a ring of root barrier at least 60 cm deep around the plant.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as in the pot and firm the soil well.
5. Water thoroughly straight away and regularly in dry weather during the first year.
6. Mulch around the base and never dig around the plant afterwards: damaged roots produce suckers.

Care

Water

Only in the first year, in dry weather. After that it copes perfectly well.

Feeding

Not needed: it grows well even on poor soil.

Suckers

Cut or mow suckers off close to the ground throughout the season. Do not pull or dig them out: that damages the roots and produces even more.

Weeding

Do not hoe or dig around the plant; keep weeds down with a mulch.

Gloves

Wear gloves when pruning or cutting suckers: the milky sap can irritate the skin.

Tip: If you want red fruit clusters in winter, choose a female plant: male plants do not bear fruit.

Staghorn sumac: when to prune it?

Pruning months: February–March.

When: It does not need pruning. If you want to, do it in February–March while it is still dormant.

How:

• Remove dead, crossing or broken branches back to the trunk or a healthy side branch.
• For extra-large leaves you can cut it back to 30–60 cm above the ground every 1–2 years in February–March; it will then flower and fruit less.
• Cut suckers off as low as possible, often rather than too late.

Caution: Pruning and root damage stimulate even more suckers. Wear gloves and long sleeves: the milky sap can irritate the skin.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Suckers

In spring or autumn, dig up a sucker with a piece of root and replant it elsewhere straight away.

Root cuttings

In winter, lay 5–8 cm pieces of root in a pot of cutting compost and cover them lightly. They shoot in spring.

Staghorn sumac: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −35 °C.

• Fully hardy, to about −35 °C: in Belgium it needs no protection.
• The bare, velvety branches and the red fruit clusters of female plants decorate the winter garden.
• Heavy snow can break the brittle branches: shake it off gently.

Diseases and pests

• Suckers: New shoots all over the lawn and border, up to several metres from the plant. Mow or cut them short, install a root barrier and do not dig around the plant.
• Verticillium wilt: Branches that suddenly wilt in summer, with dark streaks in the wood. Cut out affected branches back to healthy wood and disinfect your secateurs.
• Broken branches: The wood is brittle and snaps in storms or under snow. Saw broken branches off cleanly and choose a fairly sheltered spot.
• Skin irritation: The milky sap can cause itching and redness in sensitive people. Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning.

Through the year

• February: Prune if wished, or cut back hard for larger leaves.
• March: Plant. Finish pruning before the buds break.
• April: Plant. Cut or mow suckers short.
• June: Flowering. Cut off suckers.
• July: Flowering. Mow off suckers. Water young plants in dry weather.
• September: Cut off suckers. Autumn colour begins.
• October: Fiery autumn colour. Plant.
• November: Plant. Leaf fall.
• December: Red fruit clusters and velvety branches decorate the garden.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The name staghorn sumac refers to the velvety branches, which look like the antlers of a young stag still in velvet.
• Male and female flowers grow on separate plants: only female plants carry the red fruit clusters.
• In North America a single plant often forms a whole thicket through its suckers, which is really one clone.