How to Grow Staghorn Sumac – the Vibrant Native Shrub Beloved by Both Gardeners and Wildlife

Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) is a knockout native plant that's gaining popularity in the home garden. It not only provides year-round beauty, but it benefits local wildlife, and even has edible berries. These are just a few of the reasons why gardeners are turning to it more and more.

Staghorn sumac spreads steadily, forming colonies that stabilize slopes or fill edges with bold texture. Leaves turn scarlet early, berries feed birds, and the structure holds snow beautifully. The fuzzy red cones add vertical interest through summer, maturing into persistent clusters that catch light and wind.

This beautiful native variety of sumac brings drama and many other benefits to the garden. Its edible berries are beloved by wildlife (and can be used to make a drink that tastes like lemonade), its non-toxic foliage is safe around pets, and its tolerance for poor soil makes it a low-effort winner. Here's how to plant and care for staghorn sumac in your garden.

Quick Staghorn Sumac Facts

Benefits of Staghorn Sumac

Staghorn sumac earns its keep year-round. Spring brings fresh green leaves that emerge soft and fern-like. Late summer welcomes fuzzy cones that attract pollinators with nectar. Fall ushers in foliage that explodes in scarlet and orange that rivals maples. Finally, winter showcases velvet branches that stand stark against snow while berries hang on for color. Berries remain for birds in winter during the lean months, adding life when gardens quiet down and food is scarce.

Staghorn sumac colonizes easily in tough spots – think dry banks, clay soil, urban pollution – where fussy plants fail and erosion threatens. Once established, growth is vigorous without fertilizer.

Don’t confuse staghorn sumac with the poison sumac plant, though. This sumac’s berries are edible and tart. Use your staghorn sumac harvest to mix up a drink that tastes like lemonade or to make homemade jelly. Its leaves are also safe to touch without causing a rash. The cones are fuzzy and branches are velvety, which adds tactile interest on walks through the garden.

Staghorn Sumac Care

Plant staghorn sumac in fall or early spring for root development before heat or cold hits hard. Fall planting lets roots settle before winter, but spring planting helps you avoids frost heave. Either time is fine.

Choose full sun for the best color and cones. Part shade works, too, but tones down fall displays and cone production a bit compared to full sun. Space staghorn sumac plants 10-15 feet (3-4.5 m) apart for colonies or single specimens that spread naturally.

Dig a planting hole twice the rootball width and amend heavy clay with compost for drainage, like this organic compost from Amazon.

Soil & Light Requirements

Staghorn sumac shrugs off poor soil with no problems. Sand, clay, rocky, even low-fertility soil that makes other plants struggle doesn’t bother this tough native shrub.

When it comes to soil, drainage matters most. Wet feet rots roots quickly and can kill young plants. Soil pH is quite flexible, though slightly acidic to neutral is ideal for steady growth. You can keep better track of things with a 4-in-1 soil meter from Amazon.

Full sun maximizes cones and fiery fall foliage. Six hours daily brings the richest reds. Part shade softens color, but still lets shrubs grow strong. This unique plant is suited to woodland edges where dappled light filters through the canopy.

Step-by-Step Planting Guide

• Dig a hole that's twice as wide as the rootball but at the same depth, so the plant sits at the right level and doesn't sink later.
• Mix the native soil you dug out with some good compost. This gives the roots a gentle nutrition boost and helps the plant settle in without shock.
• Place the plant in the hole, backfill gently around the roots, and water deeply to settle the soil and chase out any air pockets.
• Spread mulch about 3 inches (8 cm) thick around the base, but keep it pulled back from the trunk to avoid rot.
• Stake young shrubs only if the site is windy, just enough to stop leaning until the trunks thicken and stand strong on their own.

Transplant small suckers or nursery stock of staghorn sumac in spring or fall when energy is focused on roots. A week or so before digging, water the soil well to hydrate it before planting.

Keep the rootball intact. Any disturbance slows recovery and stresses plants. Replant it at the same depth and mulch heavily for moisture retention. Water often the first season, until it is established. Larger specimens are harder to transplant. Hire pros for big ones to avoid damage.

Watering & Fertilizing

Water plants weekly during the first year after planting to build deep root systems. Established shrubs tolerate drought fine once suckers spread. A deep soak during prolonged dry spells keeps growth steady without coddling.

Fertilize your shrubs sparingly. In spring, a balanced granular is good if soil is poor and growth lags. Overfeeding pushes down weak shoots prone to wind damage or winter dieback.

Mulching & Winter Prep

Add mulch around the base of your shrub that’s 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) thick. Use shredded bark or leaves. This keeps roots cool in summer and insulates in winter against freeze-thaw cycles. Pull back from the trunk to avoid rot that invites disease.

No burlap wrap or winter protection is needed to save plants from cold. These shrubs are cold hardy to zone 3 and have branches that snap back after snow load.

Pruning Staghorn Sumac

Prune in late winter or early spring before growth starts when structure shows clearly. Remove any dead or crossing branches. Thin suckers for shape or open centers to light. Prune suckers as well if you are trying to contain the spread of staghorn sumac in small yards.

Cut to the ground for renewal, if shrubs are overgrown or leggy from too much shade. Avoid summer pruning – this shrub can bleed sap that attracts insects. Shape them young for a single trunk tree form or let it sucker for a thicket.

Propagation

Propagate staghorn sumac from suckers in spring. Dig up rooted offsets carefully and replant immediately for quick establishment. This is the best way to propagate for true types that match the parent exactly. You can also root cuttings in winter in moist sand and cover with a plastic bag to hold in moisture and speed up rooting.

If you want to try your hand at propagating by seed, be aware that seeds need cold stratification for at least one or up to a few months in the fridge. Scarify seeds first for a germination boost.

Problems, Pests & Diseases

Deer browse young shoots heavily in some areas. Fence the area if deer presence is high until plants mature.

Verticillium wilt is rare, but fatal. Avoid planting in infected soil from previous hosts. Powdery mildew can also strike in humid, shady locations. To avoid this, improve the air flow with thinning.

Aphids can cluster the tips in spring. Hose off or use insecticidal soaps immediately.

Left unchecked, suckers can form dense colonies. So regular thinning of staghorn sumac shrubs may be needed to maintain tidy spaces.

Staghorn Sumac Varieties

• Rhus typhina is the standard form and grows fastest for screens that need to fill in quickly. Shop bare root staghorn sumac plants from Fox River Nursery on Etsy.
• ‘Laciniata’ cutleaf staghorn sumac offers finely cut leaves for a lacy look that softens bold structure.
• ‘Tiger Eyes’ shows golden foliage that turns pink in fall for a brighter seasonal show. Shop Tiger Eyes shrubs from Fast Growing Trees.
• ‘Bailtiger’ is a dwarf cultivar that stays smaller for urban yards and tighter spaces.

Staghorn Sumac Companion Plants

Pair with knockout natives like coneflowers or switchgrass for a prairie feel that blends textures. Asters or sedum can go up front for fall beauty and a longer-lasting display of color.

Avoid planting staghorn sumac shrubs under large trees as competition can slow growth. Plant alongside serviceberry for layered berries and height variation.

Staghorn sumac brings bold native beauty with little effort. Use this stunning shrub for screens, accents, and wildlife appeal. Colonies fill landscapes fast, so you’ll want to control suckers for a tidy garden. The staghorn sumac's four-season interest rewards patience. Its fall color is unmatched and its winter silhouette is simply striking.

Is Staghorn Sumac Poisonous?

Staghorn sumac is not poisonous. Its berries are tart and safe for drinks or jelly that tastes bright and lemony. The foliage is harmless unlike poison sumac, which has white berries and grows in swamps. Staghorn sumac's velvety branches feel soft and there's no risk of rash when brushing past this plant.

Allergic reactions are rare, but possible from contact with sap when pruning. Wear gloves when you are cutting back plants to stay safe. Pets can graze leaves without issue and birds feast on the berries freely. Confusion about toxicity comes from name similarity, but the growing location and berry color help you to tell the two sumacs apart quickly.