Green Thumb Corner

The Tiger Eyes® Sumac, Rhus typhina 'Bailtiger' (PP16,185), is a Bailey Nurseries introduction. Tiger Eyes® is a beautiful golden-leafed form of Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac. New growth is a lively chartreuse green, quickly changing to yellow, both colors contrasting nicely with the rosy-pink leaf stems. The branches angle upward while the deeply cut leaflets drape downward, giving it a rather oriental look. As magnificent as the summer colors are, the dramatic effect of yellow, orange and intense scarlet in autumn are unparalleled.

The Smooth Sumac, Rhus glabra 'Laciniata', is a shade-intolerant pioneer on heavily disturbed sites, and is particularly common along road and railroad rights-of-way. Usually in clumps of several to many individuals in a clone, rarely more than 25 stems in one clone. Sumac will often be found within the first year following fire. Smooth sumac is a short-lived pioneer, which reproduces clonally via root suckers. Seed production is moderately abundant, and seeds are dispersed by birds. Growth is rapid. Lifespan is about 20-30 years, though clones can persist for centuries. Fruit is important as winter bird food. This is an important deer browse species. It is suited to group plantings in small to large yards. It is especially useful in attracting birds to naturalized yards.

Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac, Rhus typhina 'Laciniata', is an attractive cutleaf plant that can be used as an accent or in mass plantings. The finely divided, green foliage turns a beautiful orange and scarlet-red in fall. It forms a wide spreading shape at maturity. This xeriscape sumac cultivar is a large, open, spreading shrub or small tree which typically grows 18 feet tall and 12-15' in width. Fruit clusters persist through the winter, providing some colorful interest and this fruit is attractive to wildlife. Cutleaf Staghorn has no serious insect or disease problems. Plant massed for stabilizing embankments or for hard-to-cover areas with poorer soils or for naturalizing in wild areas. Grows best in average, dry to medium moist, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.

The Smooth Sumac, Rhus glabra, is a shade-intolerant pioneer on heavily disturbed sites, and is particularly common along road and railroad rights-of-way. Usually in clumps of several to many individuals in a clone, rarely more than 25 stems in one clone. Sumac will often be found within the first year following fire. Smooth sumac is a short-lived pioneer, which reproduces clonally via root suckers. Seed production is moderately abundant, and seeds are dispersed by birds. Growth is rapid. Lifespan is about 20-30 years, though clones can persist for centuries. Fruit is important as winter bird food. This is an important deer browse species. It is suited to group plantings in small to large yards. It is especially useful in attracting birds to naturalized yards.

The Staghorn Sumac, Rhus typhina, is the most well-known sumac. Its branches resemble deer antlers. Staghorn sumac reaches 25 feet in height at maturity with an equal spread. It is not as tolerant of poorly drained soils as other sumacs. The large dark crimson - or rarely orange to yellow - pinnate leaves of this sumac have 15-31 narrow, leaflets that can be up to (6") long. The stems and fruits of Staghorn Sumac are densely hairy, as in the "velvet stage" of a stag's antlers. These colorful, nonpoisonous shrubs or small trees are rhizomatous. The large clumps form bright splashes of color along forest margins, road banks, and fencerows and in old fields over much of the Appalachians.

The Fragrant Sumac, Rhus aromatica, is a small shrub, most commonly encountered on limestone uplands, occasionally on acidic sites. It occasionally reaches tree size. Fragrant sumac is a pioneer species, establishing rapidly from seed after heavy distu

Skunkbush Sumac, rhus trilobata, is a native plant that has small yellow flowers in spring that produce small red fruits in late summer. The bright green foliage turns yellow, orange and scarlet in the fall. This xeriscape plant has an upright ascending form that grows 3-6 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide. Skunkbush fruits, which persist through fall and winter, provide a food for birds and small mammals when other foods are scarce or unavailable. It may form dense thickets that provide good hiding and nesting cover for small birds and mammals. Skunkbush has been widely planted at recreation sites, rest areas, and roadsides. It is useful for windbreaks, shelterbelts, and because of the strong root development, for erosion control. It is generally drought tolerant.

The Flameleaf Sumac, Rhus copallina, is a shrub or occasionally a small tree. When left alone it will often form thickets. It is widespread in open uplands along fence rows and in waste places. It is a prolific sprouter after a fire. Leaves have a winged axis and turn flame red to dark purple in the fall, hence the common name. Fruit matures in late summer remaining attached into winter and is eaten by many species of birds and white-tailed deer. White-tailed deer also use it as a browse.